The high unemployment rate among Black New Yorkers is being criticized by Reverend Al Sharpton. In East Elmhurst, Queens, one of the worst affected regions by the epidemic, Sharpton will hold a press conference on Thursday and ask for more contracts for minority-owned businesses.
At 9.4%, the city’s Black unemployment rate is now more than five percentage points higher than the White unemployment rate.
- Advertisement -
The New School Center for NYC Affairs released a report last year that raised concerns about the widening gap. According to the data, there is a growing disparity in New York City’s unemployment rates between Black and White workers for the first time in this century.
Recently, contracts worth a record $6 billion have been awarded to women- and minority-owned firms, thanks to the efforts of Mayor Eric Adams.
Brooklyn Navy Yard has a new $25 million facility that the mayor just announced will support the establishment and expansion of woman-owned, BIPOC health and beauty enterprises.
In the first five years of operation, the project is anticipated to generate over 900 new employment and solidify New York City’s leadership in the $450 billion health and beauty sector.
Adam stated, “While the beauty and wellness industry continues to boom by serving Black and Brown people, that wealth has not come back to those same communities.” The NY mayor added, “With this announcement, New York City is taking a stand, putting money back in the pockets of Black and Brown entrepreneurs, especially women of color.”
