Alabama’s unemployment rate drops to 4.5% in July

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Alabama’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.5% last month, down from 4.6% in June, according to data released Friday morning by Governor Kay Ivey.

“This month, there are fewer people unemployed than there have been in nearly 10 years. This is most welcome news. But even as our unemployment rate continues to decline, we must maintain our work to bring quality, high-paying, high-demand jobs to the state of Alabama. This is a goal I’m committed to, and I intend to continue doing just that,” Ivey said.

July’s rate represents 96,251 unemployed persons, compared to 100,187 in June.

The number of people counted as unemployed is down 29,931 from this time last year. The last time this measurement was at or below July’s level was in November 2007, when it measured 95,445.

“In addition to this being the lowest unemployment rate Alabama has seen since January 2008, we also continue to see yearly growth in many of Alabama’s industries, including manufacturing and construction,” said Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington. “Upticks in manufacturing and construction jobs are indicative of positive economic growth.”

Sectors gaining jobs included leisure and hospitality, where employment was up by 12,500,  and the professional and business services sector increased by 7,200, the manufacturing sector, which saw a 6,700 increase, and the construction sector, which gained 4,900.

Alabaam July 2017 Unemployment MapCounties with the lowest unemployment rates are:

  • Shelby County: 3.5%
  • Cullman and Baldwin Counties: 4.0%
  • Marshall and Elmore Counties: 4.1%

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are:

  • Wilcox County: 13.5%
  • Perry County: 10.8%
  • Clarke County: 10.2%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are:

  • Vestavia Hills: 2.9%
  • Homewood and Hoover: 3.3%
  • Alabaster:  3.4%

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are:

  • Selma: 10.9%
  • Prichard: 9.7%
  • Anniston: 6.5%