In light of the recent U.S. labor market downturn, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D) of Florida’s 24th Congressional District hosted a job fair with Miami Dade College and CareerSource South Florida last week. Featuring over 40 employers, the job fair included those from the private sector as well as local, state, and federal government agencies. Over 2,000 individuals attended.
Across the nation, Black unemployment has climbed nearly 1.3% in 2025. At 7.5%, it is the highest it has been since October 2021 and over twice the unemployment rate of white Americans.
Wilson believes the increase in the Black unemployment rate reflects policy changes in the federal government. She blames a stalled hiring landscape on the uncertainty of the economic landscape under President Donald Trump. According to an ADP National Employment Report, the private sector lost 32,000 jobs in September. With layoffs across industries, finding a job has become increasingly challenging.
“Of course, Washington isn’t making things any better,” said Wilson. “There are mass firings, tariff wars — none of it helps everyday people. With the South Florida affordability crisis, folks need support now. We’ve had so many firings, layoffs, furloughs, and so many industries have been eliminated or scaled back.”…