MONTGOMERY – North Alabama’s economy continues to show it is a powerhouse in the state.
According to the most recent unemployment figures, of the 10 counties with the lowest jobless rates in the state, six are in the Tennessee Valley.
And, the cities of Madison (1.2%) and Athens (1.4%) have the lowest and third-lowest rates among major cities.
Statewide, Gov. Kay Ivey announced today that Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate is 2.2%, down from March’s rate of 2.3%, and below April 2022’s rate of 2.5%.
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 1.3%,;Morgan, Marshall, Madison and Cullman counties at 1.4%; and St. Clair, Limestone, Lawrence, Elmore and Blount counties at 1.5%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Alabaster, Madison, Trussville and Vestavia Hills at 1.2%,; Homewood, Hoover and Northport at 1.3% and Athens at 1.4%.
In this area, Decatur’s jobless rate is 1.5%, Huntsville is 1.6% and Florence is 1.9%.
“Yet again, we see the resiliency of our state’s workforce. When Alabama works, Alabama families thrive and records are broken time and time again,” said Ivey. “We have a quick growing economy, and we are leading the game when it comes to economic success. Boasting the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, Alabama is well on its way to having the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.”
The number of people in the workforce reached a record, increasing 3,367 over the month to 2,293,022. Additionally, the number of people counted as employed also reached a record high, increasing 4,922 over the month to 2,241,560.
“Continuing this positive trend, Alabama’s employers added more than 40,000 jobs over the last year, reaching the third highest jobs count in history,” said Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “Wages have yet again set a new record high, rising by more than $30 a week since last month alone.
“More money in the pockets of Alabamians is always a good thing.”
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 40,800 to 2,143,700, with gains in the private education and health services sector (+8,000), the government sector (+6,300) and the professional and business services sector (+6,100), among others.
Over the month, wage and salary employment increased in April by 7,900. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+3,800), the financial activities sector (+1,700) and the private education and health services sector (+1,300), among others.
Total private average weekly wages reached a new record high in April, rising to $1,023.12, up $31.02 over the month and up $27.68 over the year. Additionally, both the trade, transportation and utilities sector and the financial activities sector hit new record high weekly wages, rising to $835.56 and $1,305.68 respectively.
Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 6.0%, Greene County at 4.0% and Clarke County at 3.7%.
Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 4.5%, Prichard at 3.2% and Bessemer and Gadsden at 2.5%.
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