FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2026
CONTACT:
Tonya J. Williams
Williams@iwpr.org
615-417-8314
Federal Layoffs, Dismantled DEI, and Economic Instability Pushed Over 100,000 Black Women Out of the Labor Market in 2025
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), the nation’s leading think tank for women’s economic equity, released a new analysis revealing the harmful impact of the second Trump administration’s racist and sexist economic policy agenda on Black women in just the first year. Despite a worsening labor market for all workers, Black women faced job losses at a rate far exceeding their representation in the workforce, driven by mass federal layoffs, the dismantling of diversity initiatives, and volatile trade policies.
According to the report, Black women lost a net total of 113,000 jobs between January and December 2025. At the height of the summer volatility, Black women accounted for 54.7 percent of all female job losses, despite making up only 14.1 percent of the female workforce.
“The numbers don’t lie. In addition to navigating systemic and structural barriers on the road to economic security, Black women are being forced to endure the consequences of an administration that willfully ignores the benefits of a knowledgeable and diverse workforce,” said Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of IWPR. “We know that Black women are often the primary breadwinners for their families. So, when we are disproportionately pushed out of the workforce, the stability of entire communities is at stake. These numbers are a direct reflection of policy choices that undervalue the labor of Black women.”
Key Findings:
- Disproportionate Impacts Regardless of Job Sector: Black women lost more than three times as many jobs as all women in professional and service occupations—sectors that include health care, education, and social work.
- Targeted Federal Impact: While only 5.1 percent of Black women work in federal roles, the administration’s mass layoffs hit them hardest. Black women saw over a 30 percent decrease in their federal employment, compared to an 11.6 percent drop for all women and just 8.1 percent for men.
- DEI and Discrimination: The dismantling of federal DEI programs and erratic tariff schedules created an environment where Black women—often the “first fired”—were more susceptible to layoffs in shrinking sectors.
“Black women’s experiences are the ‘canary in the coal mine’ for the American economy,” said Dr. Jennifer Turner, report co-author. “The data shows that even when sectors shrink across the board, the exit door is pushed open widest for Black women. This isn’t just an economic trend. It is a systemic failure to protect the workers who keep the service and care industries that support our families running.”
IWPR Policy Recommendations:
To address these disparities, IWPR calls on policymakers to prioritize the following:
- Strengthen Workplace Protections: Reinstate and expand protections against race- and gender-based discrimination.
- Support for Care Sectors: Increase investment in health care and education—sectors where Black women are highly concentrated.
- Equitable Workforce Development: Fund programs specifically designed to transition workers displaced by AI and federal downsizing into stable, high-growth roles.
- Strengthen the Social Safety Net: Expand access to affordable child care and paid leave to support breadwinner mothers re-entering the workforce.
Read the full report, “One Year Into Trump’s Second Term, Black Women Face Disproportionate Job Losses,” here.
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The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) is the nation’s leading think tank working to win economic equity for all women. Through evidence-based research, policy solutions, and advocacy, IWPR is advancing the power and well-being of women across the US. Learn more at IWPR.org.
