In 2024, six percent of the Black or African-American population in the United States were unemployed, the highest unemployment rate of any ethnicity. In 2024, the national unemployment rate stood at four percent.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (LNU04000006) from Jan 1972 to Jun 2025 about African-American, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

In 2023, about 23.51 percent of unemployed Black or African American individuals had been jobless for at least 27 weeks. This was slightly higher amongst Asian individuals, at 23.55 percent. See the monthly unemployment rate in the U.S. here.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - White (LNS14000003) from Jan 1954 to Jun 2025 about white, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

In the third quarter of 2024, 7.6 percent of the black population in Brazil was unemployed. The unemployment rate for Pardo Brazilians was approximately seven percent, while for whites it was five percent.

Reason for Unemployment Data by Ethnicity and Race 2019-2020

  Current Population Survey Results showing unemployment data broken out by ethnicity detailing the reason for unemployment. Presented in thousands; non seasonally adjusted, for the second quarter in 2019 and 2020. About the BLS Unemployment Data including Current Population Survey Demographic Breakdowns: Links to several different datasets, including Current Population Survey results showing seasonally adjusted unemployment data broken out by ethnicity and age, reason for unemployment, and duration of employment prior to unemployment for years including 2017-2019.  Other datasets show over-the-year percent change in the third month's employment level and taxable wages by industry for a given quarter at the County, State, and MSA level yearly from 1990 - present.
  Geography Level: NationalItem Vintage: 2019-2020
  Update Frequency: N/AAgency: BLSAvailable File Type: Excel 

  Return to Other Federal Agency Datasets Page

description: This dataset shows the population, civilian labor force, unemployed, and unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and older by race and ethnicity in New York State and its Labor Market Regions.; abstract: This dataset shows the population, civilian labor force, unemployed, and unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and older by race and ethnicity in New York State and its Labor Market Regions.

In 2023, the unemployment rate of African Americans in the United States stood at 5.5 percent. This was over the national average of 3.6 percent.

The high rate of unemployment

There are many reasons why the unemployment rate among minorities is different than the national average. When it comes to African Americans, a large part of this is due to historical events, such as slavery and the struggle for civil rights, as well as the number of Black families living below the poverty level. Additionally, in 2019, for every 100,000 of the population, there were 2,203 Black men in prison. This high rate of imprisonment can contribute to the unemployment rate for African Americans, since having been in prison can reduce one’s chances of finding a job once released.

Earning differences

African Americans also make less money than other ethnicities in the United States. In 2020, the median weekly earnings of African Americans were 794 U.S. dollars, compared to Asians, who made 1,310 U.S. dollars per week, and whites, who made 1,003 U.S. dollars per week. While the African American unemployment rate may be low, it is clear that much has to change in order to achieve full equality.

The unemployment rate of white disabled persons in the United States amounted to 6.7 percent in 2023. This is significantly lower than the unemployment rate of disabled black people, which was 10.2 percent in the same year.

2004 to 2021 Virginia Employment Status of the Civilian Non-Institutional Population by Sex, by Race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and detailed by Age, by Year. Annual averages, numbers in thousands.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Expanded State Employment Status Demographic Data Data accessed from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website (https://www.bls.gov/lau/ex14tables.htm)

Statewide data on the demographic and economic characteristics of the labor force are published on an annual-average basis from the Current Population Survey (CPS), the sample survey of households used to calculate the U.S. unemployment rate (https://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm). For each state and the District of Columbia, employment status data are tabulated for 67 sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, marital status, and detailed age categories and evaluated against a minimum base, calculated to reflect an expected maximum coefficient of variation (CV) of 50 percent, to determine reliability for publication.

The CPS sample was redesigned in 2014–15 to reflect the distribution of the population as of the 2010 Census. At the same time, BLS developed improved techniques for calculating minimum bases. These changes resulted in generally higher minimum bases of unemployment, leading to the publication of fewer state-demographic groups beginning in 2015. The most notable impact was on the detailed age categories, particularly the teenage and age 65 and older groups. In an effort to extend coverage, BLS introduced a version of the expanded state employment status demographic table with intermediate age categories, collapsing the seven categories historically included down to three. Ages 16–19 and 20–24 were combined into a 16–24 year-old category, ages 25–34, 35–44, and 45–54 were combined into a 25–54 year-old category, and ages 55–64 and 65 and older were combined into a 55-years-and-older category. These intermediate age data are tabulated for the total population, as well as the four race and ethnicity groups, and then are evaluated against the unemployment minimum bases. The more detailed age categories continue to be available in the main version of the expanded table, where the minimum base was met.

Additional information on the uses and limitations of statewide data from the CPS can be found in the document Notes on Using Current Population Survey (https://www.bls.gov/lau/notescps.htm) Subnational Data and in Appendix B of the bulletin Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment (https://www.bls.gov/opub/geographic-profile/home.htm).

Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Urban: Open: Other Ethnicity data was reported at 17.452 % in Jun 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 % for Mar 2019. Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Urban: Open: Other Ethnicity data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.000 % from Jun 2007 (Median) to Jun 2019, with 49 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.452 % in Jun 2019 and a record low of 0.000 % in Mar 2019. Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Urban: Open: Other Ethnicity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Census. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.G026: ENEMDU: Unemployment Rate: Urban.

Characteristics of the Insured Unemployed. This dataset provides information on the race and ethnicity composition of unemployment insurance claimants. The data are based on those who file a continued claim in the week containing the 19th of the month, which reflects unemployment during the week containing the 12th. This corresponds with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey. (Source: ETA-203)

Analysis of ‘Labor Force Status by Race and Ethnicity: Beginning 2012’ provided by Analyst-2 (analyst-2.ai), based on source dataset retrieved from https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/5d5ae00f-3f59-49d9-bd5f-c5a44e0823bf on 27 January 2022.

--- Dataset description provided by original source is as follows ---

This dataset shows the population, civilian labor force, unemployed, and unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and older by race and ethnicity in New York State and its Labor Market Regions..

--- Original source retains full ownership of the source dataset ---

In 2024, about 62.7 percent of the Asian community was employed. The highest employment rate was found among Mexican-Americans, at 64.1 percent, and the lowest employment rate was found among Puerto Ricans, at 55.2 percent. In total, around 60 percent of all working-age Americans were employed at this time.

United States Unemployment Rate: Two or More Races data was reported at 6.100 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.200 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Two or More Races data is updated monthly, averaging 8.350 % from Jan 2003 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 268 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.300 % in Apr 2020 and a record low of 3.500 % in Dec 2019. United States Unemployment Rate: Two or More Races data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

Created for the 2023-2025 State of Black Los Angeles County (SBLA) interactive report. To learn more about this effort, please visit the report home page at https://ceo.lacounty.gov/ardi/sbla/. For more information about the purpose of this data, please contact CEO-ARDI. For more information about the configuration of this data, please contact ISD-Enterprise GIS. table name indicator name Universe timeframe source race notes source url

below_fpl_perc below 100% federal poverty level percent (%) Population for whom poverty status is determined 2016-2020 American Community Survey - S1703 Race alone; White is Non-Hispanic White https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US06037&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1703

below_200fpl_perc below 200% federal poverty level percent (%) Total population 2021 Population and Poverty Estimates of Los Angeles County Tract-City Splits by Age, Sex and Race-Ethnicity for July 1, 2021, Los Angeles, CA, April 2022 All races are Non-Hispanic LA County eGIS-Demography

median_income Median income (household) Households 2016-2020 American Community Survey - S1903 All races are Non-Hispanic; Race is that of householder https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S1903&g=0500000US06037

percapita_income Mean Per Capita Income Total population 2016-2020 American Community Survey - S1902 Race alone; White is Non-Hispanic White https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US06037&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1902

college_degree_any College degree AA, BA, or Higher % Population 25 years and over 2021 American Community Survey - B15002B-I Race alone; White is Non-Hispanic White https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=b15002b&g=0500000US06037

graduate_professional_degree Graduate or professional degree % Population 25 years and over 2021 American Community Survey - B15002B-I Race alone; White is Non-Hispanic White https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=b15002b&g=0500000US06037

unemployment_rate Unemployment Rate Population 16 years and over 2016-2020 American Community Survey - S2301 Race alone; White is Non-Hispanic White https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S2301%3A%20EMPLOYMENT%20STATUS&g=0500000US06037&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S2301

below_300fpl_food_insecure Percent of Households with Incomes <300% Federal Poverty Level That Are Food Insecure Percent of Households with Incomes <300% Federal Poverty Level 2018 Los Angeles County Health Survey

https://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ha/LACHSDataTopics2018.htm

below_185fpl_snap Percent of Adults (Ages 18 Years and Older) with Household Incomes <185% Federal Poverty Level Who Are Currently Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Also Known as Calfresh Adults (Ages 18 Years and Older) with Household Incomes <185% Federal Poverty Level Los Angeles County Health Survey 20182018 https://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ha/LACHSDataTopics2018.htm

B24010 Sex by Occupation for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over Civilian employed population 16 years and over

At most qualification levels, white people aged 16 to 64 were the least likely to be unemployed out of all ethnic groups in 2022.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Hispanic or Latino (LNS14000009) from Mar 1973 to Jun 2025 about 16 years +, latino, hispanic, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Demographic data of Missouri Unemployment claims by race

In 2024, the employment rate of persons with a disability in the labor force who identified as white was 23 percent in the United States. In comparison, 20.3 percent of the labor force that was Black and had a disability were employed in 2024. The disability section of the Current Population Survey (CPS) is a set of six questions to identify persons have physical, mental, or emotional conditions that cause serious difficulty with their daily activities.