Laid Off, Not Left Behind – A Business Guide for Black Women in 2025

The job market is sending a warning sign, and Black women are at the center of it. In 2025, unemployment for Black women jumped from 5.4 percent in January to 7.7 percent in September—the highest in four years and rising faster than for any other group of women. Economists say more than 300,000 Black women have lost their jobs since early this year. Behind every statistic is a real person, a family, and a future suddenly in question.

If you’re a Black woman who has been laid off, pushed out, or stuck in underpaid work, your skills still have value—and they can be the foundation of a business. This isn’t about glamorizing hustle culture; it’s about options, ownership, and turning a forced change into a strategic one.

Here are five business paths you can start exploring now, and how Black Pages International can support each step.

Service-Based Consulting

What did people always come to you for at work—project management, HR, marketing, training, operations? Those are consulting services that small businesses will pay for. Start by packaging a simple starter offer, such as a 90-minute strategy session plus a follow-up email. Use examples of existing consultants in the Black Pages International directory to shape your pricing and positioning. Once you’ve helped your first one to three clients, list your consulting business on Black Pages International so more Black-owned companies can find and hire you.

Administrative and Online Support

Virtual assistant work, bookkeeping, social media management, and customer support are all in demand, especially among small businesses and solopreneurs. Identify the tools you already know, such as Google Workspace, QuickBooks, or Canva. Black Pages International’s network can be a strong client source, as many Black-owned businesses need help but do not know who to trust. Create a clear listing on the platform describing the tasks you handle and your availability.

Food, Catering, and Cottage-Industry Products

Depending on local laws, you may be able to legally sell food from home, offer small-scale catering, or create products such as sauces, baked goods, or spice blends. Start small through friends, churches, or neighborhood events. As you formalize your business, add it to Black Pages International so local customers can discover you when they search for Black-owned food businesses in their city.

Tutoring, Coaching, and Teaching

If you have strengths in academics, music, art, fitness, or life skills, you can build a tutoring or coaching business. Offer one-to-one sessions or small groups online. Use Black Pages International to reach parents, professionals, and organizations looking for Black experts and role models for their children or teams.

Digital Products and Content

Guides, templates, mini-courses, and digital downloads can turn your expertise into scalable income. Start with one problem you can solve in a PDF or short video. As your catalog grows, direct your Black Pages International listing to your online store so the directory feeds your digital revenue.

How Black Pages International Helps You Move

Black women have always been economic anchors in their families and communities. Black Pages International recognizes that reality and is built to give you low-barrier visibility without requiring a perfect brand. The platform connects you with Black-owned clients and customers who want to support you intentionally and keeps you informed about grants, training, and events created specifically for women and Black founders.

Losing a job is destabilizing, and the structural issues behind these numbers are real. But you are not powerless. With information, community, and a platform like Black Pages International in your corner, you can turn unemployed into in demand.