ATLANTA (AURN News) — Black workers continue to feel the pain of a slowing economy as unemployment has climbed sharply over the past two years.
National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said a series of policy decisions have contributed to growing economic challenges facing Black Americans.
“The result? Black unemployment rate is up to 6.6%. Two years ago it was 4.2, 4.3%,” Morial said during an interview with AURN News.
Morial pointed to cuts in the federal workforce and changes in hiring practices as key factors behind the increase.
“The DOGE cuts knocked out two to three hundred thousand black people from jobs in the federal sector,” he said.
He also argued that anti-DEI executive orders have had a chilling effect on hiring.
“The anti-DEI executive orders chilled the hiring of African Americans in the private sector,” Morial said.
For Black families already dealing with higher prices, housing costs and economic uncertainty, Morial said the situation has reached a critical point.
“It is a state of emergency,” he said.
Morial also told AURN that voters should pay closer attention to the connection between elections and economic outcomes.
“Political decisions affect economic policy,” he said.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Jamie Jackson:
