U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley is sounding the alarm over sharply rising Black unemployment rates, warning that the continued displacement of Black workers from the labor force poses serious risks to the overall U.S. economy.
During a recent exchange on the House floor, Pressley directly questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the growing number of Black workers being pushed out of employment and the economic consequences of that trend. Pressley said Black unemployment rates are now among the highest seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the situation as “through the roof.”
“Hundreds of thousands of Black workers have been pushed out of the workforce,” Pressley said, noting that Black workers contribute more than $1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy.
According to figures cited by the Massachusetts Democrat, the loss of Black workers from the labor market has already resulted in an estimated $37 billion reduction in gross domestic product.
Pressley stated that Black women are being hit particularly hard, despite being among the most educated and active participants in the labor force. She described their displacement as a “glaring warning sign” for where the economy may be headed.
“Black workers, Black women in particular, have always been the canaries in the coal mine,” Pressley said. “This is a problem for everyone. Black women are bearing the brunt, but everyone will feel this hurt.”
When asked whether he would commit to analyzing Black unemployment rates and their impact on financial stability, Secretary Bessent agreed to conduct the analysis but declined to commit to a timeline for releasing findings or a plan of action.
Pressley suggested a March 6 deadline, arguing that existing federal infrastructure should allow the Treasury Department to move quickly.
Pressley has previously led efforts urging Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other financial regulators to address racial disparities in employment, framing the issue as both a civil rights concern and a systemic economic risk.
“As Black History Month comes to a close,” Pressley said, “Black families, Black futures, and the lives and livelihoods of all who call this country home are depending on you to act.”
