The White House recently acknowledged that the Black unemployment rate has remained low at 5.2%, marking it as the lowest since April 2023 when it reached a record low of 4.8%. This achievement is attributed to the policies of President Joe Biden, including his signature Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and CHIPS and Science Act. These measures have funneled significant investments into industries like manufacturing and construction, leading to the creation of many jobs and wage growth.

Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers member, Kirabo Jackson, emphasized that the increase in jobs and wages have significantly benefited Black communities, especially the lower half of the income distribution. He highlighted the fact that the jobless rate for Black Americans in 2023 was the lowest since statistics began being gathered in 1972.

Brendan Duke, Senior Director of Economic Policy at the Center for American Progress, also pointed out that the tight labor market post-COVID-19 made hiring Black workers a necessity for employers, a policy that has traditionally been problematic.

Duke credited the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill, the American Rescue Plan, as a significant factor in enhancing employment for Black workers in state and local governments. Furthermore, Jackson indicated the narrowing of the racial employment gap between Black and White Americans, a feat rarely achieved in history.

White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, affirmed the administration’s dedication to investing in Black communities. Jean-Pierre pointed out that since 2019, Black wealth had increased by 60%, and there had been a more than 100% increase in the number of Black households owning a business.

She attributed Black business ownership’s rapid growth to Biden’s federal contracts worth $70 billion to small disadvantaged businesses and investments in community lenders to widen capital access. Jean-Pierre reinforced the government’s commitment to ensure that Black communities are not left behind as they have been in past years.

This improvement in Black communities’ economic situation has been attributed to a series of legislative acts initiated by President Biden.