Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

For , we're asking our staff at the Joint Center to share what songs define the movement and help inspire their work at America's Black think tank.

What songs define the movement for you? Swipe to some of our staff picks.

This week, Meta launched the America's Workforce Academy, a nationwide, cost-free program set to fast-track participants into a long-term career in a skilled trade.

Learn more about here:

America’s Workforce Academy: The Future Is for Everyone Meta is launching America’s Workforce Academy (AWA), a nationwide program designed to fast-track participants to long-term careers in skilled trades.

What happens when artificial intelligence begins reshaping spiritual life itself?

In a new op-ed, Joint Center Technology Policy Director and Senior Advisor Danielle (Davis) Canty explains how faith-based chatbots and sermons drafted by generative AI turn deeply personal spiritual expression into data.

Read more in Tech Policy Press: https://www.techpolicy.press/the-pope-warned-us-about-ai-but-were-missing-the-spiritual-question/

Joint Center President Dedrick Asante-Muhammad visited the Obama Presidential Center with his two daughters, Jemison and Ella.

Thank you to Marquis Miller of the Obama Foundation for providing the Joint Center with tickets to be an early visitor. The Obama Presidential Center officially opens on Juneteenth.

What does the May Jobs Report mean for Black workers? Joint Center Senior Researcher Cantrell Dumas analyzes the latest Jobs Day data ⬇️

May’s jobs report brought some encouraging news for Black workers. The Black unemployment rate fell from 7.3 percent in April to 6.6 percent in May, a meaningful one-month drop. The number of Black workers with jobs also increased by 101,000.

Black women saw notable improvement. Their unemployment rate fell from 6.9 percent in April to 6 percent in May. Black men also saw a decline, though smaller, with their unemployment rate falling from 7.6 percent to 7.3 percent.

The report also shows why one month of progress should be viewed with caution. Black unemployment is still higher than it was a year ago, when it stood at 6 percent in May 2025. In other words, May’s improvement is welcome, but it also reflects a partial recovery from recent setbacks.

The picture is also more troubling for young Black workers. Their unemployment rate rose from 13.4 percent in April to 14.1 percent in May. That increase suggests that younger Black workers are not benefiting from the labor market in the same way as older workers.

Those challenges are part of a larger pattern. At 6.6 percent, Black unemployment continues to be the highest among major racial groups. It is well above the unemployment rates for White and Asian workers, both at 3.8 percent, and Hispanic workers at 5 percent. It is also higher than the national unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.

The Joint Center applauds the nomination of Samuel Negatu to serve as Commissioner of the United States International Trade Commission.

Negatu is a longtime expert on international trade and technology policy issues with extensive experience in the executive branch and Congress.

In a time when strong Black representation is at risk at all levels of government, we urge the Senate to confirm the well-qualified Negatu for this crucial role.

It's ! Each month, the Joint Center analyzes Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data and explains what the numbers mean for Black workers. Our May Jobs Day analysis, led by Joint Center Senior Researcher, Financial Regulation and Policy, Cantrell Dumas, is below. 🧵

➡️ From April to May, the unemployment rate for Black workers decreased from 7.3 percent to 6.6 percent.

➡️ In May 2025, the unemployment rate for Black workers was 0.6 percentage points lower at six percent.

➡️ From April to May, the number of Black workers employed increased by 101,000.

➡️ From April to May, the unemployment rate for Black men decreased from 7.6 percent to 7.3 percent.

➡️ The unemployment rate for Black women decreased from 6.9 percent to 6 percent.

➡️ From April to May, the unemployment rate for young Black workers increased from 13.4 percent to 14.1 percent. The overall unemployment rate for all young workers also increased from 8.5 percent to 9.4 percent.

➡️ In May, the overall unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, while the Black unemployment rate was 6.6 percent.

➡️ At 6.6 percent, the Black unemployment rate remains the highest among all racial groups, compared to 3.8 percent for White workers, five percent for Hispanic workers, and 3.8 percent for Asian workers.

➡️ The U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs in May, exceeding the 80,000 forecast in the Dow Jones consensus estimate. For Black workers, the report offered a mixed but improved picture. The Black unemployment rate fell from 7.3 percent in April to 6.6 percent in May, and the number of Black workers employed increased by 101,000. Black women saw especially notable improvement, with their unemployment rate falling from 6.9 percent to six percent. However, overall Black unemployment remains elevated compared with six percent in May 2025 and continues to be the highest among the major racial groups.

Today, the Joint Center, Women’s Tech & Telecom Partnership, and Acacia Hill Strategies co-hosted a congressional roundtable discussion, “Women, Work, and AI: Preparing Workers and Communities for the AI Economy."

This Hill-focused conversation centered on emerging policy discussions around AI, workforce transformation, and economic opportunity, including strategies to support worker readiness, career mobility, entrepreneurship, and broader participation in AI-driven growth, as it pertains to women, Black communities, and communities of color.

We're grateful for all speakers and attendees, including Joint Center Tech Policy Director and Senior Advisor Danielle (Davis) Canty, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, and more.

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE 🗓️

Join us for the 2026 Future of Black Communities Summit on July 16 in Washington, DC.

Each year, the Summit brings together policymakers, researchers, advocates, and community leaders to examine the challenges and opportunities defining the future of Black communities — and to build toward solutions that last.

More details to come. We hope to see you there!