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.

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.

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.

In 2023, around 1.48 million people of Hispanic or Latin origin were unemployed. In total in the United States, there were around six million people who were unemployed in 2023.

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.

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.

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).

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.

The unemployment rate for people ages 16 to 24 in the United States in 202024 23 was 10 percent. However, this rate was much lower for people aged 45 and over, at 2.9 percent. U.S. unemployment The unemployment rate in the United States varies based on several factors, such as race, gender, and level of education. Black and African-American individuals had the highest unemployment rate in 2021 out of any ethnicity, and people who had less than a high school diploma had the highest unemployment rate by education level. Alaska is consistently the state with the highest unemployment rate, although the El Centro, California metropolitan area was the area with the highest unemployment rate in the country in 2019. Additionally, in August 2022, farming, fishing, and forestry occupations had the highest unemployment rate in the United States Unemployment rate The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is the agency that researches and calculates the unemployment rate in the United States. Unemployment rises during recessions, which causes the cost of social welfare programs to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says unemployed people are those who are jobless, have looked for employment within the last four weeks, and are free to work.

United States Unemployment: Two or More Races data was reported at 319.000 Person th in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 331.000 Person th for Jan 2025. United States Unemployment: Two or More Races data is updated monthly, averaging 225.500 Person th from Jan 2003 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 266 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 663.000 Person th in Apr 2020 and a record low of 108.000 Person th in Jun 2007. United States Unemployment: 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.G035: Current Population Survey: Unemployment.

Initial Claims for UI released by the CT Department of Labor. Initial Claims are applications for Unemployment Benefits. Initial Claims may not result in receiving UI benefits if the individual doesn't qualify.

The initial claims reported in these tables are "processed" claims to the extent that duplicates and "reopened" claims have been eliminated. The claim counts in this dataset may not match claim counts from other sources.

Unemployment claims tabulated in this dataset represent only one component of the unemployed. Claims do not account for those not covered under the Unemployment system (e.g. federal workers, railroad workers or religious workers) or the unemployed self-employed.

Claims filed for a particular week will change as time goes on and the backlog is addressed.

United States Unemployment: Two or More Races data was reported at 273.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 360.000 Person th for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment: Two or More Races data is updated monthly, averaging 226.000 Person th from Jan 2003 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 268 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 663.000 Person th in Apr 2020 and a record low of 108.000 Person th in Jun 2007. United States Unemployment: 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.

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

Context

To contribute towards the research and analysis on COVID-19 and it's impact on the human life, I have made this data available in usable format for analysis.

Content

1. This dataset contains time series data of unemployment rate in US from January 2010 to Present. It contains unemployment rate records based on education qualification, race, and gender of adults.
2. This dataset also contains state-wise unemployment rate data for year 2020. The data set is clean and doesn't require much pre-processing. Dataset can be used with BI tools like Tableau as well.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank "U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS" for making the data available. URL: https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ln

Inspiration

1. Combine with COVID-19 dataset to understand the impact on Unemployment rate in the United States.
2. Perform Individual study on Unemployment in United States.

Graph and download economic data for Income Before Taxes: Unemployment and Workers' Compensation, Veterans' Benefits, and Regular Contributions by Race: Black or African American (CXUOTHREGINLB0905M) from 2013 to 2023 about veterans, contributions, compensation, benefits, African-American, workers, tax, income, unemployment, and USA.

This statistic shows the distribution of the unemployed population in the United States in 2011 by race and ethnicity. 20 percent of the unemployed population in the United States were black or African American in 2011.