Washington, D.C. — Newly released September 2025 jobs data reveal a deteriorating labor market under President Donald Trump, with job seekers experiencing fewer opportunities, longer periods of unemployment, and rising hardship.
A new analysis from the Center for American Progress examines delayed Bureau of Labor Statistics data released after the government reopened. It shows that hiring slowed sharply heading into the fall, leaving many job seekers unemployed for longer stretches of time and at risk of losing critical unemployment benefits.
“President Trump’s economic agenda is undermining job growth and leaving workers stranded in a shrinking labor market,” said Kennedy Andara, policy analyst at the Center for American Progress and co-author of the analysis. “The economy is weakening, and longer durations of unemployment risk the health of the economy and the financial well-being of families.”
CAP’s analysis highlights:
- Rising unemployment and longer job searches. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.4 percent in September 2025—the highest in four years—and the typical unemployed worker was out of a job for 10 weeks, up slightly from 2024.
- Black workers are facing the steepest challenges. The median Black woman was unemployed for 18.5 weeks in September, 7.5 weeks longer than in 2024 and 8.2 weeks longer than white men in September, and Black men were unemployed for 4.2 weeks longer than white men. Black women’s unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent, and labor force participation fell sharply over the year.
- Unemployment benefits are not keeping up. In 33 states and Washington, D.C., benefits replace less than half of a worker’s former wages, and in 16 states eligibility lasts fewer than 26 weeks, putting many workers at risk of losing income support before they find new jobs.
- Job openings and hiring have dropped to multiyear lows. Job postings on Indeed in October 2025 fell to their lowest level since early 2021, and federal data show hiring rates in August 2025 were at their weakest since 2011.
The analysis warns that with the typical unemployed worker now needing 10 weeks to find a new job, those currently jobless will continue to face financial strain into late 2025.
Read the analysis: “In a Stagnating Job Market, Job Seekers Are Struggling To Find Opportunities” by Kennedy Andara and Sara Estep.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Christian Unkenholz at [email protected].