Recently released statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor now show that the pandemic has wiped out major employment gains and curtailed years of economic growth for Black people in America, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Black unemployment was at 5.8 percent in February before the pandemic created economic chaos nationwide.

Black people were on fragile ground prior to the pandemic, with less job security and overall wealth than white individuals, according to the WSJ.

Gains in employment were also less than any increase in the African American community, so as a result African American unemployment rose while the rate for others decreased.

Valerie Wilson, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute, told the WSJ that many public sector institutions like schools and city governments -- which are large employers of African Americans -- cut thousands of jobs.