Workforce Policy

Jobs Day - April 2024

April 2024 Jobs Day Analysis

The Joint Center analyzes the employment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and showcases how the numbers impact Black workers. Our April Jobs Day analysis is below.

From March to April, the total number of Black workers employed increased by 66,000 and the Black unemployment rate decreased from 6.4% to 5.6%.

In April, Black workers’ labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 63.2%.

The unemployment rate for Black women decreased to 5.4% in April, while the rate for Black men decreased to 5.9%.

The unemployment rate for young Black workers decreased to 12.6% while the rate for all young workers fell to 7.3%.

Black workers are experiencing improvements in the labor market, but household expenses are still burdensome.

In Census Pulse Survey data collected from early March to early April, 35.9% of Black households reported having either a somewhat or very difficult time paying for basic household expenses.

The cost of school lunches is affecting Black families, as 25.8% are finding it difficult to pay for household expenses because they have to pay for their children to eat at school, compared to 15.2% of white families.

Black renters are experiencing economic instability, as 18.6% reported being behind on rent, compared to 10.4% of renters nationwide.

This week, the Federal Reserve announced that it would hold interest rates steady for now as inflation remains high. The nation is experiencing a funding boom in industrial sectors like clean energy, and policymakers must ensure that Black workers are represented in these emerging opportunities. As Vice President Harris embarks on a nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour, the administration must center policies that increase Black employment opportunities and build economic security.

Follow the Joint Center on X for monthly Jobs Day updates.