High gas prices continue to dominate the headlines as the U.S. and Iranian stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz persists. Compounding consumer frustration–especially for Black Americans–is an unemployment rate almost double that of the national average and other ethnic groups.
For Black Americans, the March 2026 unemployment rate was 7.1% while the national average was 4.3%. Earlier in the year, the unemployment rate was even higher, fluctuating between 7.3% in January to 7.7% in February.
During the past few months, the unemployment rate among Black men and women, who are noncollege graduates, has dropped. But overall, the unemployment rate among Black men is higher in 2026 than it was this time last year.
Black women with college degrees and those who work in public sector jobs have seen professional progress eroded under Trump’s attacks on federal workers and DEI policies.
Despite the impact of Trump’s policies on Black Americans, recent polling shows he has found an opening among a block of voters historically loyal to Democrats. A 2025 Gallup poll found 22% of Black voters approved of Donald Trump’s leadership compared to 13% in 2017 during his first term.
