When Job Numbers Rise But Some Still Feel Stuck: What the Latest Unemployment Report Means for Black Workers and Teens

On paper, November’s jobs report looks like a slowdown. In real life, it feels like a door quietly closing, especially for Black workers and teens who were already pushing uphill. According to the Bureau Labor Statistics, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, the highest level in years. But averages can be deceptive. Dig a little deeper, and a much more uneven story emerges: joblessness climbed sharply for Black Americans (8.3%) and surged for teenagers (16.3%), particularly Black teens, hitting levels not seen since the early pandemic era.

This seems to impact the high schooler refreshing job boards after school, the college student home for winter break hoping to land something, to help with tuition or car insurance, and Black families who’ve lived through this pattern before, where economic “cooling” hits them first and hardest.

Economists have long noted that Black unemployment tends to rise faster than the national average during periods of economic stress, as exhibited in these other reports:

* Labor and economic policy groups have pointed out that the rate of unemployment rises faster for Black workers than the national average amid recessions, indicating greater vulnerability to economic shocks. [SOURCE: WorkRise, “In a Recession, Fewer Liquid Assets Add to Black Financial Instability,” October 2023]

* A University of Minnesota Law School review notes that Black workers typically see their unemployment rates rise faster than other racial groups in recessions. [SOURCE: Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality, “Ending Black America’s Permanent Economic Recession: Direct and Indirect Job Creation and Affirmative Action Are Necessary,” May 2021]

* Research on unemployment dynamics finds that Black workers are disproportionately more likely than white workers to become unemployed when overall unemployment rises, especially in economic downturns. [SOURCE: Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, “Race-Ethnicity, Class, and Unemployment Dynamics: Do Macroeconomic Shifts Alter Existing Disadvantages?” October 2020]

November’s data reinforces that reality. Black workers saw their unemployment rate jump significantly, widening a gap that never fully closes even in strong economies. For Black teens, the spike was even more alarming. This is a reminder that early work opportunities, which can shape long-term earnings and confidence, are becoming harder to access at exactly the wrong time.

Teen unemployment always runs higher than the national rate, but this jump stands out. First jobs are often the most fragile: retail shifts disappear, seasonal roles dry up, and entry-level positions are the first to be paused when employers get cautious. For teens—especially those from families already navigating rising costs—losing access to work means losing more than spending money. It means fewer chances to build independence, savings, and a sense of momentum.

What makes this moment feel especially fraught is the contrast. The data says inflation has cooled, interest rates may ease next year, and the economy isn’t officially in crisis. Yet for many families, the promise of “things getting better” hasn’t translated into stability and the people most affected are the ones least cushioned from disruption.

What This Means for Families Right Now

The key takeaways to know:

The job market slowdown isn’t hitting everyone equally. Black workers and teens are feeling the impact earlier and more intensely than the national average suggests.

Teen jobs are often the first to disappear. Entry-level and seasonal roles shrink quickly when employers pull back, making it harder for young people to get a start.

Early work experiences matter long-term. Losing access to jobs now can ripple into future earnings, confidence, and career paths, especially for marginalized groups.

This pattern isn’t new, and that’s the problem. Historically, Black unemployment rises faster in economic slowdowns and recovers more slowly afterward.

Families may feel economic stress even without a recession. A “cooling” economy can still mean stalled progress, delayed plans, and tighter margins at home.

For parents watching their teens struggle to find work or adults navigating layoffs right at this very moment, this is incredibly hard. The economy doesn’t just move in numbers. It moves through households, and through those challenging, sometimes quiet recalculations families have to make.