Pandemic job gains for minority and less educated at risk if labor market softens
• Minority and less educated workers saw strong job gains during the pandemic recovery, but those could be at risk as the job market softens • So far measures like employment-to-population ratio show continued gains for disadvantaged groups in the tight labor market • But there are worrying signs like rising unemployment for younger workers, especially younger Blacks • Real wage growth has remained positive across income levels and for Blacks and Hispanics despite high inflation • It's unclear if pandemic job gains for minority and less advantaged workers will persist if joblessness rises as in past downturns