Hundreds Attend Minneapolis Job Fair as Black Women Face National Unemployment Crisis
Hundreds Attend Minneapolis Job Fair as Black Women Face National Unemployment Crisis
By Tom Akaolisa (MinneapoliMedia)
A surge in unemployment among Black women nationwide has prompted action in the Twin Cities. On Friday, more than 200 job seekers and a dozen employers gathered at The Coliseum on East Lake Street for “A Job Fair & Brunch for Black Women,” an event designed to address what organizers are calling a growing — but underreported — economic crisis.
A National Trend with Local Impact
Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that unemployment among Black women remains significantly higher than the national average. The September report placed the rate for Black women at 5.9%, compared with 4.1% nationally. Earlier this summer, that number climbed to nearly 7%, translating to more than 300,000 Black women laid off or leaving the workforce nationwide.
In Minnesota, the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reports a similar trend, with unemployment among Black workers hovering between 7% and 8% through midyear. DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek noted that historically marginalized groups “tend to bear the brunt of rising unemployment,” often serving as an early warning sign for the broader economy.