MONTGOMERY — This month’s latest unemployment figures are a mixed bag, according to the Alabama Department of Labor.
Overall, across the Tennessee Valley, the jobless rate is lower than a year ago, but June’s numbers are significantly higher than May.
But, more people are working than before.
Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted June unemployment rate held steady at a record low 2.2%, well below June 2022’s rate of 2.6%, Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced today. The rate represents 50,427 unemployed persons, a record low, compared to 51,419 in May and 58,505 in June 2022.
In North Alabama, Morgan County had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.1% for June, down from 2.7% a year ago but an increase over May’s 1.7% rate.
Morgan County’s numbers are reflective of other counties in the region: Colbert County – 3.1% in June, 2.4% in May, 3.8% in June 2022; DeKalb – 2.5%, 2%, 3%; Franklin – 2.8%, 2.4%, 3%; Jackson – 2.7%, 2.1%, 3.2%; Lauderdale – 2.8%, 2.2%, 3.4%; Lawrence – 2.4%, 1.9%, 3%; Limestone – 2.3%, 1.8%, 2.7%; Madison – 2.2%, 1.8%, 2.7%; and Marshall – 2.3%, 1.8%, 2.6%.
Among the larger cities in the Tennessee Valley, Madison had the lowest unemployment rate in June at 1.9%. However, it was down from June 2022 (2.2%) but up from May’s 1.5%. Elsewhere, Athens was 2.1% in June, 1.7% in May, and 2.8% in June 2022; Decatur was 2.2%, 1.8%, and 2.8%; Florence was 2.8%, 2.1%, and 3.5%; and Huntsville was 2.4%, 2%, and 2.9%.
Statewide, the number of people counted as employed increased by 20,928 over the year to a record high of 2,253,490. The civilian labor force also reached a record 2,303,917, with 12,850 more people joining over the year.
“I am proud to continue to celebrate the gains we are making month after month with our economic metrics,” Washington said. “The number of jobs our economy is supporting also rose to its highest level ever. This is certainly great news.
“Employers are continuing to add jobs and more and more people are joining the labor force each month.”
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 55,700, reaching a record high of 2,163,600, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (+11,400), the private education and health services sector (+10,000), and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+8,400), among others.
Over the month, wage and salary employment grew by 16,900. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+8,300), the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+2,800), and the manufacturing sector (+2,700), among others.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.0%, Morgan County at 2.1%, and Madison and Cullman counties at 2.2%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 7.5%, Perry County at 6.2%, and Dallas County at 5.7%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Trussville and Vestavia Hills at 1.8%, Madison at 1.9%, and Alabaster, Homewood, and Hoover at 2.0%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 6.7%, Prichard at 5.6%, and Bessemer at 3.9%.
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