(AURN News) — The latest jobs report, delayed seven weeks by the government shutdown, reveals economic warning signs that are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Black women are facing the most severe fallout. In September, unemployment for Black women rose to 7.5%, the highest level seen in years — a spike that represents a significant loss of economic stability.
According to the report, 265,000 fewer Black women are working now compared with January. Their employment rate has fallen to 57.2%, effectively wiping out years of gradual progress. Economists often view Black women as one of the economy’s most reliable early indicators, and the broader labor trends in the report appear to support that concern.
The U.S. added 119,000 jobs , slightly more than forecast, but the unemployment rate still inched upward as more people entered the job market and were unable to find work.
Federal cuts are contributing to the strain. The government has shed 97,000 jobs since President Donald Trump took office, and the sectors hit hardest by tariffs, transportation and warehousing continue to weaken.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
