The recent surge of immigrants has sparked debates about whether they are taking “Black jobs,” as suggested by former President Donald Trump. However, data indicates that immigrants are not filling roles that would otherwise go to American citizens. Derrick Johnson of the NAACP emphasized that there are no such things as “Black jobs,” and the goal should be to provide quality jobs for hardworking Americans without creating division between communities, especially during an election cycle where Black voters are being targeted by political disinformation.
While historically Black workers have been overrepresented in certain sectors, including government and home health care, they hold positions across the employment spectrum, including leadership roles. Data shows that Black workers have experienced gains in employment under both the Trump and Biden administrations. Despite a recent uptick in Black unemployment aligning with the national average due to economic slowdown, the employment situation for Black workers remains generally positive and has improved over the years, as per reports from the White House.
Amid discussions about immigrants potentially taking jobs from native-born workers, experts suggest that new immigrants often fill positions in fields like construction and agriculture that might otherwise go unfilled. Divisions based on race, immigration status, or socio-economic background have been critiqued for creating unnecessary conflict, as echoed by Pennsylvania voter Seth Anderson-Oberman. Overall, the labor market appears to be absorbing immigrants while still providing job opportunities for all workers, regardless of background, highlighting the need for unity rather than division in discussions about employment.