On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was just 2.2%. This is unchanged from April’s all-time record low rate and below May 2022’s rate of 2.5%.
May’s rate of just 2.2% represents 51,445 unemployed persons. This is a new record low, compared to 51,448 in April and 57,866 in May 2022.
“I’m proud to announce that not only has our state’s unemployment rate remained strong and steady but is accompanied by a total jobs count that has once again reached a record high,” said Gov. Ivey. “Despite facing a challenging national economy, Alabama has pressed onward to deliver strong and stable economic results. With a highly skilled workforce, economic incentives curated for success and red tape being cut where necessary, Alabama remains as the Southeast’s hub for economic growth and opportunity for all.”
The number of people in Alabama’s civilian labor force also increased to a new record high, with 7,713 more people counted this year over last year. Additionally, the number of people counted as employed rose to a new record high, gaining 14,134 over the year to 2,247,581.
“Since last year, our employers have added more than 40,000 jobs, creating an excellent economic climate for Alabama,” said Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “We are holding steady with a record low unemployment rate, more and more people are working, and people are joining the labor force in record numbers, which indicates confidence in the economy.”
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 40,500 people, with gains in the private education and health sector (+8,600), the government sector (+6,600), and the professional and business services sector (+6,300), among others.
Total wage and salary employment increased in May by 2,100 over the month. Monthly gains were seen in the other services sector (+1,100), the leisure and hospitality sector (+900), and the government sector (+500), among others.
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 1.6%, Morgan and Cullman Counties at 1.7%, and Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and St. Clair Counties at 1.8%.
The counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 6.8%, Dallas County at 4.5%, and Clarke County at 4.3%.
The major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are Vestavia Hills at 1.4%, Alabaster, Homewood, Madison, and Trussville at 1.5%, and Hoover at 1.6%.
The major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Selma at 5.5%, Prichard at 4.3%, and Bessemer at 3.3%.
The national unemployment rate in May was 3.7%, up .3% from April. Alabama’s labor force participation rate of just 56.9% continues to trail the national average of 62.8%
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