The Joint Center analyzes unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and shows how these numbers affect Black workers. Our June Jobs Day analysis is below.

• From May to June, the unemployment rate for Black workers remained the same at 6.6 percent.
• In June 2025, the unemployment rate for Black workers was 0.3 percentage points higher at 6.9 percent.
• In June, the overall unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, while the Black unemployment rate was 6.6 percent.
• At 6.6 percent, the Black unemployment rate remains the highest among all racial groups, compared to 3.6 percent for White workers, 5.2 percent for Hispanic workers, and 3.9 percent for Asian workers.

• From May to June, the number of Black workers employed decreased by 29,000.
• From May to June, the unemployment rate for Black men decreased from 7.3 percent to 7 percent.
• The unemployment rate for Black women increased from 6 percent to 6.2 percent.

• From May to June, the unemployment rate for young Black workers increased from 14.1 percent to 16.6 percent. The overall unemployment rate for all young workers also increased from 9.4 percent to 10.7 percent.

The U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, a sharp slowdown from May’s revised gain of 129,000 and below economists’ expectations. The overall unemployment rate edged down from 4.3 percent to 4.2 percent, but the labor force participation rate also declined, suggesting that the lower unemployment rate does not fully reflect a stronger labor market. For Black workers, the report was mixed but more concerning than May. The Black unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.6 percent, and the number of Black workers employed decreased by 29,000. Black men saw modest improvement, with their unemployment rate falling from 7.3 percent to 7 percent, while Black women saw their unemployment rate rise from 6 percent to 6.2 percent. Young Black workers saw a notable increase in unemployment, with their rate rising from 14.1 percent in May to 16.6 percent in June.  At 6.6 percent, Black unemployment remains higher than the overall unemployment rate of 4.2 percent and continues to be the highest among major racial groups.