Unemployment Among Black Professionals: What the Numbers Really Mean
The Onyx Truth is, Black workers are being hit hardest by the labor market slowdown, even those with college degrees.
Desy Osunsade
Global HR Leader
What Do The Numbers Really Mean?
The Wall Street Journal recently reported a troubling reality: while the national unemployment rate remains low at 4.2%, unemployment for Black Americans have surged to 7.2% — the highest since 2021.
Key takeaways from the article:
Black workers are being hit hardest by the labor market slowdown, even those with college degrees.
Federal job cuts are playing a role, since Black professionals are overrepresented in the federal workforce.
Layoffs disproportionately affect entry-level and junior roles, where many Black workers are concentrated.
The rollback of corporate diversity initiatives is shrinking opportunities and slowing progress made after 2020.
Families are being stretched thin — from student loan debt to forced relocations — with ripple effects across communities.
The Onyx Truth Perspective
These aren't just numbers on a page for us. This is us. Our livelihoods, our careers, our futures.
For decades, Black professionals have been the “canary in the coal mine” of the U.S. economy. We’re often the first to feel the effects of downturns, the last to be rehired, and the most exposed when diversity is treated as a trend instead of a commitment.
The narrative that “a degree guarantees stability” is unraveling before our eyes. Even highly educated Black professionals are struggling to secure meaningful, well-paying work. That’s not an individual failure — it’s a reflection of systemic inequities that devalue Black talent.
Exhibit A, from the article: The July [unemployment] rate [of Black graduates 25 years and older] was 1.7 percentage points higher than the unemployment rate for white workers [ 25 years and older] with only a high-school diploma—the biggest gap since Labor Department records for that metric began in 1992.
Since 1992!
At The Onyx Truth, we believe two things can be true at once:
Yes, our barriers are higher
And yes, we still have the power to move strategically, build community, and create our own pathways to success.
Advice for Black Professionals Navigating Unemployment
If you’re in this season right now, here are a few concrete steps to help you regain momentum:
1. Reframe Your Skills:
Translate government or nonprofit experience into private-sector language: “Managed \$10M portfolio” instead of “oversaw grants.”
2. Network Intentionally.
Reach out to alumni, mentors, or professional groups — not just to ask for jobs, but for guidance and connections.
3. Consider Contracting or Consulting.
Short-term work can bridge gaps, add experience, and sometimes lead to full-time roles.
4. Use Available Resources.
Workforce centers, job placement nonprofits, and LinkedIn Learning can keep your skills sharp and visible.
5. Protect Your Mental Health.
Job loss can shake confidence. Stay grounded through family, community, and practices that restore your energy.
Join the Movement
The reality is clear: Black professionals can’t afford to navigate these challenges alone. We need spaces that see us, hear us, and stand with us.
That’s why we built The Onyx Truth Collective — a LinkedIn community designed to help us share wisdom, job opportunities, and strategies for not just surviving, but thriving.
If you’re searching, stressed, or simply want to stay ready, come build with us:
👉🏾 Join The Onyx Truth Collective
We’re stronger together. It’s time.
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