By Matt Underwood US jobless rate for Blacks and teens surges in November, and that’s a headline that really gets you thinking, doesn’t it? It’s like a signal flashing a warning: things might not be as rosy as they seem, particularly for those on the margins. When you see unemployment climbing for these two groups, it often feels like a harbinger of tougher times ahead, a kind of canary in the coal mine for the broader economy.
I’ve been hearing echoes of this in different corners, and it paints a pretty concerning picture. AI is changing the job landscape, and it seems like entry to mid-level office jobs are already feeling the heat. Some major companies are even talking about significant workforce reductions in the coming years due to AI efficiencies, which gives you pause for thought. That’s a lot of jobs potentially disappearing, and it’s easy to see how this disproportionately impacts those with fewer years of experience or without advanced degrees, and the impact it could have on black people and young people with no money.
The anecdotal evidence I’ve come across seems to reinforce what the statistics are showing. One high school teacher, for example, is seeing their students struggling to find work, which used to be a good indicator that a recession was coming. We are seeing these trends, and then we are seeing an even bigger spike from May 2025 to now.
And it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about what’s happening in the “real world.” Some people are having a hard time securing even minimum wage jobs, and those who have degrees still can’t find anything after a year, which is a real punch in the gut after all that hard work. I’ve also read about the U6 unemployment rate – which includes discouraged workers and those in part-time jobs looking for full-time work – spiking even harder than the traditionally tracked U3. It suggests that there’s a whole lot of economic distress out there that the headline numbers might not fully capture. That’s a sign that people are working in lower paying, less secure jobs just to get by.
One person mentioned trying to secure jobs and hearing nothing. This is not unusual. In fact, many people seem to be in this same position. If you are hiring, it’s a constant stream of applicants, from college grads to people over 60, people from all walks of life. This is showing how tough the market is.
Another thing that’s making the situation even harder is the changes in job training that are needed. Kids aren’t coming out of high school with the basic life skills that are needed, which means that employers are being forced to train them in basic things. And now you see, people are also turning to AI to help with their job search. It’s a sign of a real struggle to stand out in the increasingly competitive market.
The impact isn’t felt equally. Some people are doing just fine, with record profits on Wall Street, and others are struggling and cutting back on spending. That’s a worrying sign of a K-shaped economy, where some are thriving while others are falling behind.
There’s even a “stripper index,” an unofficial measure that some people watch to gauge the health of the economy. The index is saying things are getting worse. Whether it’s strippers, gig workers, or young people looking for their first job, it seems like a lot of people are getting squeezed right now.