Upcoming job fair addresses this emerging crisis
Terace Johnson has her pulse on Minnesota’s employment picture. As CEO of Spotlight Staffing, Johnson heads a business that specializes in recruiting employees for multiple industries, including health care, finance, accounting, skilled labor, manufacturing and education.
She’s spotting a trend that deeply concerns her. “I’m seeing a growing number of Black women looking for work,” Johnson said.
Unemployment among Black women is shaping into an emerging crisis. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, joblessness among Black women is spiking.
Some 318,000 Black women have vanished from the U.S. labor force this year as their jobs were eliminated. In January, the unemployment rate for Black women stood at 5.4%, well above the overall rate of 4%. By August, the unemployment rate for Black women had risen sharply to 7.5%.
Those statistics are reflected in the local job picture. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 9,018 Black women in Minnesota filed for unemployment benefits between the months of February and April.
Job losses are attributed to federal job cuts, the rollback of DEI programs, and the slowdown in the economy. The decline in Black workers’ employment appears concentrated among Black women; Black men’s employment rates appear more stable.
“Their positions have been eliminated,” said Sheletta Brundidge, media personality and owner of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, a multimedia production and podcasting company. “I’m talking about degreed, educated, accredited, experienced Black women.”
In an effort to help Black women find good sustainable jobs, Brundidge will host a Job Fair and Brunch for Black Women. Hiring managers from about a dozen employers will be at the Job Fair, making personal connections with Black women job candidates who are seeking employment.
“We need to uplift our community right now.”
“We have to reflect who we serve in health care,” said Jim Platten. The workforce job navigator for M Health Fairview, Platten will be at the job fair to recruit candidates who fill a need for the health care giant.
“The more diverse we are, the better we are, because patients have a better experience and more trust,” Platten added.
The Job Fair will include a raffle where two lucky women in attendance will have their November mortgage or rent paid by ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com and Spotlight Staffing LLC.
Brundidge said the Job Fair will be an aggressive effort to link un- and under-employed Black women to new opportunities in a fun, upbeat setting. “We’re making mimosas, making mortgage payments, and making sure these Black women find jobs,” Brundidge said.
Job Fair attendees will also be able to access assistance in preparing or revising their resumes.
“Some of these women have been on the job for more than 30 years. They haven’t updated their LinkedIn profile or have never made one,” Brundidge added. “The Job Fair will offer tips and strategies for the women to put their best foot forward.”
Terace Johnson said she feels compelled to do her part to address the unemployment crisis. “I am a career-driven young Black woman, and I love that I can showcase my skill set and can help women.
“This is truly important,” Johnson said. “We need to uplift our community right now.”
The Job Fair is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, from 9 am to noon at The Coliseum, 2708 E. Lake St. in Minneapolis. It is free and open to all.
Learn more about the Job Fair and Brunch for Black Women on Friday, Oct. 17, at www.shelettamakesmelaugh.com.Sheletta Brundidge is a children’s author, an Emmy Award winning comedian, and a local activist. She is also a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. For more information, visit www.shelettamakesmelaugh.com.
Sheletta Brundidge is a children’s author, an Emmy Award winning comedian, and a local activist. She is also a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. For more information, visit www.shelettamakesmelaugh.com.