Breaking the Bias: The Unseen Unemployment Crisis for Black Workers

This report lays bare the unsettling truth that, for Black workers, the labour market remains a place of unequal opportunity. Despite decades of progress in promoting diversity and inclusion, the reality for many Black job seekers is one of enduring struggle —where qualifications and experience often take a back seat to systemic barriers deeply rooted in bias and discrimination.

We explore the rise and tragic fall of Ontario’s Employment Equity Act, a beacon of hope that promised fairness for Black Ontarians but was swiftly dismantled, leaving behind a vacuum where progress should have taken root.

The repeal of this pivotal legislation marks a turning point—one that still resonates today as we witness Black unemployment rates soar disproportionately high compared to their White counterparts.