NWLC Reacts to First Release of Labor Data since Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC. — On the first Friday of each month, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) reviews monthly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) jobs report. The report reveals labor force participation and unemployment data, the number of jobs added or lost, and gender and racial analysis.

This marks the first jobs report since the government shutdown began, with data from September 2025. This was the very first ever jobs report that was not released on time since data collection began, breaking a 934 month streak. 

Today’s report revealed that Black women aged 20 and over experienced a dramatic one-month change in unemployment: their rate increased from 6.7% in August to 7.5% in September 2025. And for women overall, the rate increased from 3.8% in August to 4.2% in September. 

Of the jobs added in September 2025, women gained just 21,000, while men gained 98,000 jobs.

“September’s data shows that our economy appears to be contracting and Black women’s unemployment remains on the rise. It is more important than ever that the public has access to key data on how our economy is doing,” said Jasmine Tucker, vice president for research at NWLC. “The government shutdown had tremendous costs for millions of Americans, including by targeting programs that provide essential support to women and families. While it has reopened, there is now an unfillable gap in key economic data we need to make decisions. The president remains relentless in his attempts to hide the truth.” 

NWLC released a report earlier this year that unveiled how women and people of color make up the majority of the workforce in many of the federal agencies being targeted for massive staff reductions.

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