Baldwin Economic Justice Report
Financial News For The People
Comprehensive analysis of employment data, economic disparities, and policy impacts. Empowering communities with data-driven insights on economic justice.
Policy Analysis
In-depth examination of federal policies and their impact on communities
Employment Data
Latest statistics on unemployment, wages, and labor force participation
Community Focus
Highlighting disparities and solutions for economic equity
Featured Policy Reports
Analysis of critical Joint Center reports examining federal economic policy and its impact on Black communities
Budget Reconciliation Cuts
Impact on the Social Safety Net
Key Findings:
- 25% of Black households receive SNAP benefits vs. 10% of White households
- 61% of Black children rely on Medicaid/CHIP for health coverage
- Black poverty rate: 17.1% compared to 8.1% for White Americans
Critical Message:
"These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent lifelines for millions of families. Weakening the social safety net is a direct threat to the economic security of Black communities."
Policy Recommendations:
- • Reject cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF programs
- • Oppose harmful work requirement expansions
- • Adopt a racial equity lens in all fiscal decisions
- • Strengthen and expand safety net programs
Industrial Policy Opportunity
Building Economic Mobility for Black Communities
Key Findings:
- IRA projected to create 9 million jobs over the next decade
- Black workers: 10.4% of manufacturing, 9.9% of construction workforce
- CHIPS Act: $52 billion for semiconductor production and high-tech jobs
Critical Message:
"This is not a moment for trickle-down economics. We have a historic opportunity to be intentional and build an inclusive economy. The promise of manufacturing's revival must include Black workers from the outset."
Policy Recommendations:
- • Embed equity requirements in federal implementation
- • Invest in targeted workforce development programs
- • Support Black-owned businesses in contracting
- • Mandate data collection on workforce demographics
The Dual Strategy for Economic Justice
These reports present a comprehensive framework: a defensive posture to protect the vital social safety net from cuts, and an offensive strategy to secure an equitable stake in the economy of the future. Both analyses converge on a central theme: "race-neutral" federal policies are insufficient to address deep-seated racial disparities. Achieving genuine economic equity requires targeted, data-driven, and intentional strategies that actively dismantle barriers and create inclusive pathways to prosperity.
Employment & Economic Data
Breaking down the latest employment statistics reveals persistent disparities across race, gender, and education
Unemployment by Race & Ethnicity
Black workers experience unemployment at more than double the rate of White workers, revealing persistent structural inequalities in the labor market.
Key Insight
The Black unemployment rate of 8.3% is 2.1x higher than the White rate (3.9%), a gap that has persisted for decades despite economic growth.
Year-over-Year Change
Black unemployment increased from 6.2% to 7.8% (Q3 2024 to Q3 2025), while White unemployment remained stable at 3.8%, showing disproportionate impact.
Labor Force Participation by Race & Gender
Black women show the highest participation rate among all women, driven by economic necessity despite facing high unemployment and severe wage gaps.
Critical Context
The high participation rate of Black women (61.0%) combined with higher unemployment rates illustrates economic necessity driving labor market engagement despite systemic barriers.
Wage Gap Analysis: Race & Gender
Women of color face compounded discrimination, earning significantly less than White men even after controlling for education and experience.
Hispanic Women
Earn just 65.3 cents for every dollar paid to White men, the largest gap.
Black Women
Earn 69.6 cents for every dollar paid to White men.
All Women
Overall gender wage gap of 18.0%, a historic low but still significant.
Unemployment by Educational Attainment
Higher education provides a buffer against unemployment, but the gap reveals the challenges faced by those with lower levels of formal education.
Education Disparity
Individuals without a high school diploma are more than twice as likely to be unemployed (6.8%) compared to those with a bachelor's degree or higher (2.9%).
What This Data Tells Us
• Systemic Barriers Persist: The racial unemployment gap and wage disparities are not explained by individual factors but reflect deep-seated structural inequalities in hiring, promotion, and compensation.
• Economic Necessity Drives Participation: High labor force participation among Black women, despite facing the highest unemployment and severe wage gaps, demonstrates economic imperative rather than opportunity.
• Education Alone Is Insufficient: The gender wage gap actually widens with higher education, proving that credentials alone cannot overcome discriminatory workplace structures.
• Policy Intervention Is Essential: These disparities will not self-correct. Achieving economic justice requires targeted policies that address discrimination, expand opportunity, and ensure fair compensation.
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