MONTGOMERY – A trio of north Alabama cities are among the state’s best when it comes to unemployment rates for June.
And, there are five counties in the area which boast the state’s lowest rates.
So, for the Tennessee Valley, the economy is roaring along.
Madison has the state’s second lowest jobless rate among major Alabama cities at 2.2%. Right behind are Athens and Decatur with a 2.4% rate. Huntsville had a 2.6% rate last month and Florence was 3.1%
According to data released today by the Alabama Department of Labor, the state’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted June unemployment rate is 2.9%, down from May 2024’s revised rate of 3.0%. June’s rate is higher than June 2023’s rate of 2.3%.
The rate represents 67,784 unemployed persons, compared to 70,668 in May and 53,412 in June 2023.
Morgan County has the state’s lowest rate, tied with Shelby County, at 2.3%. Marshall and Cullman counties are at 2.4% with Madison and Limestone counties at 2.5%. Elsewhere in north Alabama, DeKalb County is 2.7%, Lawrence County is 2.8%, Jackson County is 2.9%, Lauderdale County is 3.1% and Colbert County is 3.2%.
Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced today that Alabama’s labor force participation rate for June held steady at 57.5%, but increased four-tenths of a percentage point from June 2023. The percentage of prime-age workers increased by 1.4 percentage points to 79.2% over the year. Prime-age workers are those aged 25-54 years.
“The number of prime age workers increased by more than one percentage point since last year,” said Washington. “Combined with the growth in the civilian labor force, the growth in employment, and the growth in jobs, these numbers are all excellent indicators of Alabama’s economic picture.”
The number of people counted as employed increased by 20,417 over the year to a new record high of 2,270,227. The civilian labor force also increased to a new record high to 2,338,011, with 34,789 more people joining over the year.
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 47,500 to 2,218,400, also a new record high, with gains in the private education and health services sector (+11,900), the government sector (+8,900), and the manufacturing sector (+7,700), among others.
“We are continuing to see Alabama’s employers adding jobs at a record pace,” said Washington. “Our economy is supporting more jobs than ever before. Additionally, our average weekly wages have increased to their second highest level ever.”
Total private sector average weekly wages increased in June to $1,043.70, representing a yearly increase of $41.47. The highest average weekly wages were $1,044.12, recorded in December 2023.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby and Morgan counties at 2.3%, Marhsall and Cullman counties at 2.4%, and Madison, Limestone, and Elmore counties at 2.5%.
Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 8.5%, Perry County at 6.8%, and Dallas County at 6.0%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Trussville and Vestavia Hills at 2.0%, Alabaster, Hoover, Homewood, and Madison at 2.2%, and Athens and Decatur at 2.4%.
Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 7.1%, Prichard at 5.4%, and Bessemer at 4.0%.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
