September 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 September Jobs Day analysis is below.

From August to September, the Black unemployment rate decreased from 6.1 percent to 5.7 percent and 162K Black workers gained jobs.

In September, the unemployment rate for Black men decreased from 6.5 percent to 5.6 percent and for Black women, it slightly increased from 5.7 percent to 5.9 percent.

The unemployment rate for young Black workers decreased from 15.3 percent to 13.2 percent and slightly decreased for all young workers from 9.9 percent to 9.2 percent. 

Inflation is still negatively impacting Black households. In September, 20.8 percent of Black renters and 10.3 percent of Black homeowners reported being behind on their monthly payments.

Despite decreased unemployment rates, household expenses are straining families, with 31.9 percent, of Black families reporting difficulty paying for basic needs—the highest rate among racial groups.

Economic instability has led to food insufficiency, with 19.7 percent of Black households reporting they sometimes or often lack enough food as of early September.

As policymakers continue to deploy funding for the Investing in America Agenda, Black workers need access to high-quality jobs that will lower unemployment while increasing economic security.

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