August 2025 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 August Jobs Day analysis is below.

From July to August, the unemployment rate for Black workers increased from 7.2 percent to 7.5 percent, the highest rate since October 2021 (7.6 percent).  

In August, the number of Black workers employed increased by 260,000.

From July to August, the unemployment rate for young Black workers increased from 14.3 percent to 16.8 percent, and the overall unemployment rate for all young workers decreased from 10.8 percent to 10.7 percent. 

In August, the unemployment rate for Black women increased to 7.5 percent, the highest rate in five years (since August 2021 (eight percent). 

At 7.5 percent, the Black unemployment rate was three points higher than the overall unemployment rate of all workers in August (4.3 percent) and higher than the unemployment rate for each individual racial group: White (3.7 percent), Hispanic (5.3 percent), and Asian (3.6 percent). 

In August, the overall unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, while the Black unemployment rate was 7.5 percent. As predicted, August’s jobs data shows an unsteady labor market and disproportionate impacts for Black workers.

*Disclosure: Since the unjust firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfe, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we are closely monitoring monthly employment and jobs data. 

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