January 2026 Jobs Day Analysis

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

• In January, the unemployment rate for Black workers was 7.2 percent, the lowest unemployment rate since June 2025 (6.9 percent). However, it was the highest among all racial groups.
• Last January, the unemployment rate for Black workers was one percentage point lower at 6.2 percent.

• From December to January, the number of Black workers employed increased by 16,000.
• From December to January, the unemployment rate for Black men increased from 7.2 percent to eight percent.
• The unemployment rate for Black women decreased from 7.8 percent in December to 6.4 percent in January, the lowest since June 2025 (6.3 percent).
• In January, the unemployment rate for Black women dropped 1.4 percentage points while the unemployment rate for Black men increased by 0.8 percent.

• From December to January, the unemployment rate for young Black workers decreased from 14.4 percent to 14 percent, while the overall unemployment rate for all young workers increased from 9.2 percent to 9.4 percent.

• In January, the overall unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, while the Black unemployment rate was 7.2 percent.
• At 7.2 percent, the Black unemployment rate is the highest among all racial groups: White 3.7 percent, Hispanic 4.7 percent, and Asian 4.1 percent.
• An estimated 130,000 jobs were added in January. Strong job gains create more opportunities for Black workers to enter the workforce.