Alabama unemployment rate lowest since 2008

Alabama’s total unemployment rate continued to fall in August, dropping to 5.7 percent from the June rate of 6.1 percent, according to data released Friday by Gov. Robert Bentley‘s office.

July’s rate represents 123,095 unemployed persons, compared to 130,298 in June and 130,098 in July 2015.

“We continue to see decreases in Alabama’s unemployment rate, and increases in both of our employment measures over the year, which is a testament to the strong economic development efforts we have prioritized,” Bentley said in a news release. “We haven’t seen an unemployment rate this low in eight years. Not only did the rate decrease since last month, there are also nearly 28,000 more people working this year than there were last year.”

“July registered the fewest number of unemployed people since 2008 and the good news also trickled down to the counties this month as well,” Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said.

All major Alabama cities, metro areas, and 66 Alabama counties experienced drops in the unemployment rate.

Fitzgerald continued, “Every county in Alabama saw its rate decrease over the month, and 66 of 67 counties saw their rates decrease over the year, some by more than two percentage points. This is excellent news!”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are:

• Shelby County: 4.2%
• Elmore County:4.7%
• Baldwin County: 4.8%

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are:

• Wilcox County: 14.3%
• Perry County: 12.1%
• Clarke County: 11.4%