Black government workers look for jobs in other sectors as shutdown continues

Labor Market Impact - Federal government efficiencies reduction led to thousands of federal job eliminations [3] - Black unemployment rose 1.5 percentage points from February to August, exceeding other demographic groups [3] - Late career transitions can mean lost pensions, reduced earnings, and potentially delayed retirement [8] Government and Policy Response - Representative Ayanna Presley is calling on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to act, urging the Fed to use all available tools to uphold its mandate of maximum employment [4][5] Workforce Demographics and Challenges - Black workers have long dominated the federal workforce, with nearly one in five federal workers identifying as black or African-American last November [2] - Public sector jobs offer better benefits packages, better retirement packages, and more stable employment compared to the private sector [7] - Disruption of livelihoods and lives is palpable and feels personal to black professionals [5]