When former President Donald Trump last week reasserted his claim that immigrants are ’taking Black jobs,’ the phrasing once again became internet fodder.
On social media, people pushed back on perceived racial stereotypes and xenophobic rhetoric by sharing their ‘Black job.’
Trump later clarified that ‘Black jobs’ applies to all jobs held by Black Americans and others and that he was raising the alarm on potential employment risks.
Still, the discussion comes as Black workers have made positive employment advancements. There are still significant racial gaps and inequalities in measures such as unemployment rates and wages.
In February, the employment-to-population ratio for Black prime-aged workers matched an all-time high, and the overall employment-to-population ratio for Black workers remains near a 20-year high. The unemployment rate for Black workers fell to an all-time low last year but has since increased.
The labor force participation rate for Black workers reached a 16-year high earlier this year. However, the overall labor force participation rate has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels.
Occupational segregation remains an issue, with many jobs disproportionately held by Black or Hispanic workers.
