Disparity in Black Unemployment Rates Widens Despite Overall Improvement

Black unemployment in the US rose to 6% in June, nearly double the rate of White joblessness, which fell to 3.1%. Black workers accounted for 90% of the recent rise in unemployment, with 267,000 job losses since April. Latino and Asian unemployment also increased, while the overall unemployment rate fell to 3.6%. Experts warn that if economic conditions continue to weaken, gains made by Black workers and other vulnerable groups could diminish quickly. Racial disparities in unemployment persist, with Black workers being more likely to be fired during economic slowdowns.