Trump Didn’t Just Fail to Protect Black Jobs. He’s Leading Us to Black Unemployment.

August 13, 2025

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond criticizes President Trump's economic policies for failing working people, particularly Black Americans. The July jobs report shows Black unemployment surging to over 7%, nearly double the overall rate, reaching its highest level since 2021. Redmond points out that Black workers in federal jobs have been disproportionately impacted by layoffs, and Black women in healthcare face consequences from recent healthcare cuts.

Who is affected

Black Americans, particularly Black workers and Black women
Federal workforce employees, especially Black workers
Healthcare and caregiving workers, with Black women being overrepresented
Workers across all demographic groups
Employees in manufacturing, government, retail, and mining industries

What action is being taken

The AFL-CIO is organizing to ensure workers have a voice and can bargain collectively
The labor movement is fighting for fair contracts to protect Black workers from discrimination
The AFL-CIO is working to hold the Trump administration accountable for policies deemed anti-worker and anti-Black
President Trump is firing the head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in response to negative data
Trump is implementing policies that involve cutting healthcare and reducing the federal workforce

Why it matters

Black unemployment has reached its highest level since 2021, nearly double the overall rate
Nearly one million people became jobless in July alone
Rising Black unemployment historically signals broader economic downturns
Key industries are losing jobs, indicating potential economic instability
The pattern of "last hired, first fired" continues to affect Black workers disproportionately
Healthcare cuts will impact workers in that sector, where Black women are overrepresented

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint