Today’s jobs data reveal an economy whose cracks are starting to show. While the headlines may look reasonable – 165,000 jobs added and steady unemployment – digging deeper into the data reveals some alarming trends. The length of time people are unemployed continues to climb and now averages more than six months. The number of people who want to work full time but are part time because they could not get enough hours or find a full-time job jumped to 4.8 million workers. And the share of working Black women declined in October, even as the rate for workers overall held steady.
These data contribute to harmful ongoing trends: a smaller share of women working and meager job gains for women since the beginning of 2025. Women have gained an average of just 37,700 jobs a month since January 2025. The share of working women has declined from 56.8 percent to 56.0 percent between January 2025 and October 2026 – and Black women’s decline has been more than double that, dropping from 59.1 percent to 57.3 percent.
This faltering economy is driven by the Trump administration’s policies which have created an affordability crisis and left workers behind by slashing public sector jobs and scaling back worker protections, all while enriching himself and his allies. The Trump administration’s policies have prioritized the wealthiest Americans over working Americans, handing out tax breaks to the very highest earners while cutting everyday Americans’ health care and driving up the prices of gas and groceries. And these policies have especially harmed Black workers who have seen layoffs and increasing economic insecurity while facing the highest rates of unemployment.
The dissatisfaction with this administration’s economic policies – which we’ve been tracing for months – was in clear view on Tuesday as voters rejected the status quo. Voters went to the polls with cost-of-living issues and the economy at the front of their minds, and they expressed clear frustration with the current direction of the country. As National Partnership for Women & Families President Jocelyn Frye observed, “Women and families are telling us that the economy isn’t working for them and they want leaders who can deliver on real solutions.”
People are demanding an economy that is designed to support workers and families instead of the wealthy few. They know that investing in workers – especially women – will benefit everyone and grow our economy, putting an affordable life in reach for all people. That means raising the minimum wage, passing paid family and paid sick leave, closing the gender wage gap and more to design an economy that puts workers first.