Advancing Black Workers in the South:
An HBCU Research Initiative
The Advancing Black Workers in the South study — led by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — explored the real challenges Black workers face on the job and how they view unions and workplace organizing. Browse the snapshots below for a closer look at what they found — and what it means for the future of work in the South.
The Southern Black Worker Crisis
(sources: ACS data, National Equity Atlas, CEPR, “The Union Advantage for Black Workers”)
10%
of the Black labor force lives in the Southeast
1%
of Black Southeast workers are unionized vs. 23.3%
in Mid-Atlantic region
in Mid-Atlantic region
1 in 5
full-time workers struggle to maintain comfortable living
standards in AL, LA, MS, SC
standards in AL, LA, MS, SC
Workplace Inequality
(source: ABWS respondents)
1 in 6
workers know their schedule a month in advance
0%
of Black workers get less than one week’s notice on schedules
0%
of Black workers work 50+ hours weekly (vs. 8% of white workers)
0%
of Black worker respondents struggle to pay rent or afford adequate food
0%
of Black workers had to work without proper protective equipment
The Union Solution
What Workers Believe Unions Would Deliver:
(source: ABWS respondents)
0%
believe unions would increase their pay
0%
believe unions would improve their benefits
0%
say unions give workers a voice at work
What Unions Actually Deliver:
(source: CEPR, “The Union Advantage for Black Workers”)
0%
Black union workers earn 15.5% more in the Southeast
0%
more likely to have health insurance with union representation
0%
more likely to have an employer retirement plan with union representation