Black unemployment rises to 7.7% as DOGE cuts and manufacturing losses compound

Bureau of Labor Statistics data published in February 2026 showed Black unemployment rose to 7.7 percent, with Black women at 7.1 percent. Researchers at the National Employment Law Project attributed the increase to DOGE-ordered federal workforce reductions concentrated in agencies where Black workers were disproportionately represented, including the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services. The federal sector announced over 308,000 job cuts in 2025 — a 703 percent increase over 2024 — alongside manufacturing losses from tariff disruptions.