On Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that Alabama’s April unemployment rate is 2.8%, down from March’s rate of 2.9%, and well below April 2021’s rate of 3.6%. This is a new record-low unemployment rate for Alabama.
“I am thrilled that after 202 years of trying, Alabama has once again reached a new record low unemployment rate, and this forward momentum is only continuing. The people of Alabama want to work, plain and simple, and that combined with our efforts helped us reach the lowest unemployment rate in our state’s history, yet again,” stated Ivey. “We have more people working today than at any other point in our state’s history. We are shattering record after record, and we’re just getting started!”
According to Ivey’s press release, April’s rate represents 63,208 unemployed persons compared to 65,441 in March and 81,599 in April 2021. Additionally, 2,213,189 people were counted as employed which is also a record high.
“Alabama is leading the nation, no doubt about it,” Ivey continued. “We will continue working hard to ensure our people are working. Folks, the best is yet to come.”
Wage and salary employment increased in April by 6,000. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+3,200), the manufacturing sector (+2,000), and the government sector (+1,500).
Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington commended the report indicated that the numbers for tourism were promising.
“I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen a jobs report with this many positives,” stated Washington. “This is great news for Alabama’s economy and especially for our coastal region as we move into the prime tourist season. On top of the other records, we’ve also increased wages to a new record high, with average weekly wages gaining over $21 dollars over-the-year. Additionally, the leisure and hospitality sector set yet another record for weekly wages, with a yearly increase of more than $28.”
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 1.4%, Marshall County at 1.5%, and Morgan, Madison, Limestone, Elmore, Cullman, and Blount Counties at 1.6%.
Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 7.7%, Lowndes County at 5.5%, and Perry County at 5.4%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are Homewood at 1.1%, Trussville at 1.2%, and Alabaster and Vestavia Hills at 1.3%.
Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Selma at 6.9%, Prichard at 4.5%, and Anniston at 4.0%.
