Decatur, Huntsville metros jobless rates among nation’s lowest

MONTGOMERY – A pair of North Alabama metro areas are ranked in the nation’s top 10 for the lowest unemployment rate for May, according to statistics released today by Gov. Kay Ivey’s office.

The Decatur metro area was ranked fifth in the nation with Sioux Falls, S.D., with a 1.7% unemployment rate and Huntsville was tied with Ames, Iowa, for seventh at 1.8%.

Burlington-South Burlington, Vt., metro area was the lowest in the country with a 1.3% unemployment rate.

Among the other state metros:

• Daphne-Fairhope-Foley was tied with four other metro areas for ninth at 1.9%;
• Auburn-Opelika and Birmingham-Hoover were among a five-way tie for 13th at 2.0%;
• Tuscaloosa and Dothan were among an 11-way tie for 23rd at 2.2%;
• Florence-Muscle Shoals and Montgomery were among 10 metro areas tied for 34th at 2.3%;
• Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville and Gadsden were among a 17-metro tie for 44th at 2.4%;
• Mobile was joined by 18 other metro areas in a tie for 61st at 2.5%.

There are 389 metropolitan statistical areas in the nation.

“It is no surprise that Alabama continues to experience unemployment rates below much of the rest of the nation,” said Ivey. “Our laser focus on growing Alabama’s economy, combined with our world-class employers and a dedicated workforce, is making a positive difference.

“Our pursuit of investments of future industries will create even more high-paying jobs.”

The rankings are compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and can be found here.

“Alabama’s metro areas continue to shine as for the fourth consecutive month we have multiple metro areas ranking in the top 10 for lowest unemployment rates,” said Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “It’s just a further example of how successful Alabama’s economy has rebounded and how we are showing the nation how great Alabama can be.”

It was previously announced that Alabama’s state unemployment rate in May remained at a record low at 2.2%.