As Black Unemployment Hits 4 Year High, Here Are 5 Smart Pivots To Consider From An Expert

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Angelina Darrisaw, founder of C-Suite Coach, takes the stage at Culture Con to share her knowledge on the power of coaching and strategy.

Courtesy: Angelina Darrisaw

There’s a statistic buried in the August jobs report that deserves far more attention than it’s getting: Black unemployment has climbed to 7.5%, its highest level since October 2021 – nearly four years. That rate translates to 1,687,000 Black workers unemployed out of a Black labor force of 22.431 million.

Overall, the country’s jobless rate edged up to 4.3%, with hiring nearly coming to a halt. Employers added only 22,000 jobs in August, with health care (+31,000) doing most of the lifting. On the flip side, losses mounted across federal government jobs (−15,000), mining and oil & gas roles (−6,000), wholesale trade positions (−12,000), and manufacturing (−12,000).

All of this leads to what could be early warning signs for broader hiring cuts as the fiscal quarter ends.

What Are Workers To do? We Asked An Expert

With economic uncertainty in the air and unemployment levels climbing, professionals across industries face the pressing need to redefine their trajectories. And knowing how to pivot effectively to build your confidence and skills can make all the difference.
Angelina Darrisaw knows the importance of effectively pivoting firsthand. As the founder of C-Suite Coach, Darrisaw’s consulting firm has a global team of 50 professionals who design and manage coaching and leadership training programs for individuals, as well as some of the world’s most prominent companies, including Google, McDonald’s, and TIAA among others.

Darrisaw’s journey took her from being a corporate digital strategist to pivoting into the launch of her own business. After roles at Viacom and ESPN, she founded her own firm in 2015. The journey of resilience over the past ten years as a CEO, showed her how the power of purposeful pivots—rooted in healthy ambition and clarity—can unlock new paths both financially and professionally, for herself and for others, when the old one ends.

I sat down with Angelina in the Soho neighborhood of New York City to speak about how and where people can find opportunities in this current market, whether you are unemployed, underemployed, or seeking to do something else professionally.

1. Lean on your network—and don’t suffer in silence

It’s important to lean into your support system during unemployment, reemployment, or times of uncertainty. Reaching out to friends, family, mentors, and former colleagues for emotional encouragement—and also as a means to connect with potential opportunities. Sometimes, all it takes is a casual mention about your job search that might lead to a referral that changes everything.

“One of our clients learned his role was being eliminated earlier this year. The news caught him by surprise, and while the initial inclination for many is to self-isolate in moments of great stress/change, he did the opposite. I encouraged him to gather himself for the evening, wake up the next day, and send a thorough email to his entire network, listing his accomplishments, skills, and career contributions, and directly ask for any news of upcoming roles. He was surprised to see his phone ringing that day with colleagues and peers seeking to help. Fight the urge to deal with this alone and reach out for support.” Darrisaw explained, “It helps a great deal if you are not internalizing that stress and dealing with it alone.”

2. Know what you want and how you can communicate it

“I’ve heard some clients refer to layoffs as being launched into their purpose. While it may not feel that way initially, taking a step back for clarity, either through structured reflection, by engaging a coach, or connecting with libraries/other non-profits for support, can help you reassess your goals, values, transferable skills, and needs from a new opportunity. Being able to understand these elements enables you to communicate your needs clearly,” Darrisaw shared.

One of the biggest challenges when pivoting is not being clear on exactly where you want to go. Darrisaw suggests tapping into your mental state for self-reflection and to find clarity on what you want to do and what you need to do to get there. Once you know that, the next step is to be clear on how to communicate that. “Not knowing how to tell your story, communicate your goals, or how to be relatable can limit your opportunities merely from the perception that you are wavering or indecisive,” explained Darrisaw.

3. Set a clear routine, measurable goals—and reward yourself

In times of uncertainty, you don’t want to derail productivity. “Set daily or weekly goals—to keep on a schedule and a routine,” Darrisaw explained. “For example, if you are going to apply to new roles, be specific about how on your to-do list. Make your goals specific and mark them off once you’ve completed them. One way to stay motivated? Reward yourself. Tie small rewards to each win to maintain motivation. “It’s a bit of a carrot, but it works.”

4. Identify and build in-demand skills

“When you’re between roles, your full-time job is to be a career investigator. Look at job postings for the roles you want, not just the ones you have. What keywords are consistently appearing? Are they emphasizing digital tools, data analytics, or new project management methodologies? This is your personalized skills roadmap. Use this time to close the gap between where you are and where the market is going.” Darrisaw elaborated, “The most successful professionals are constantly scanning the horizon. They’re paying attention to what’s happening in their industry, noticing the skills new hires have, and listening for signals that their role and industry is being reshaped. It isn’t about collecting a bunch of certificates; it’s about strategic application. Instead of signing up for every course, choose a few high-impact skills that align with your career goals.”

5. Leverage digital networking tools for support and “rebranding”

“The most successful pivots are proactive ones. Leverage online tools to both showcase your expertise and gather essential information about your industry. By consistently posting thought leadership on social platforms and engaging in your industry online, you build a digital footprint that can attract opportunity. This is complemented by using these tools to seek out informational interviews with people who share an affiliation with you. There you can learn how to translate your skills and where you may need to upskill or reskill, without the pressure of a job ask.” Darrisaw stressed, “There is also a big opportunity in attending events in person. There is a huge value in volunteering at local conferences or industry-focused events to strengthen your network by meeting new people in the industry you are focused on.”

Networking is becoming known as the hidden job market, with an estimate that up to 70% of all hires are made through personal or professional networks and referrals.

Uncertainty Provides Opportunity

In this time of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity), people must be willing to stand by their principles, even when it’s difficult. Also, its a time of focus. Having too many irons in the fire may prove to open many doors, but it may backfire as attention isn’t being nurtured to focus on successfully closing the important ones.

And if you need a further boost of confidence, look no further than the mind of Warren Buffett, who famously said, “Generally speaking, investing in yourself is the best thing you can do. Anything that improves your own talents. Nobody can take it away from you. They can run up huge deficits, the dollar can become worth far less, you can have all kinds of things happen. But if you’ve got talent yourself, and you maximize your talent, you’ve got a terrific asset.”

A reminder that the best investment you can make – is in yourself.

“The more you learn, the more you earn.” said Buffett.