Alabama has hit a record-low unemployment rate for the third straight month with just 2.6 percent of the state’s labor force unemployed.
June’s rate represents 60,338 unemployed persons, a new record low, compared to 61,585 in May and 79,439 in June 2021. The number of people counted as employed rose to 2,228,231 in June, a new record high. This is up 5,306 from May and 59,902 from June 2021.
“The good news continues to roll in as we reach another unemployment milestone of 2.6 percent,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “For the third consecutive month, Alabama has set a record-low unemployment rate. Alabama is working like never before, and the future continues to look brighter for our state and her people.”
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 41,200, with gains in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, the construction sector and the manufacturing sector, among others. The total count of wage and salary employment is 2,085,200, the fourth highest on record.
Wage and salary employment is up in June by 5,700. Monthly gains were seen in the education and health services sector, the leisure and hospitality sector and the manufacturing sector, among others.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.3 percent, Marshall and Cullman Counties at 2.6 percent, and Morgan, Madison, Limestone, and Elmore Counties at 2.7 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 10.1 percent, Perry County at 8.3 percent, and Lowndes County at 7.5 percent.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Trussville at 2.0 percent, Vestavia Hills at 2.1 percent, and Alabaster and Madison at 2.2 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 8.7 percent, Prichard at 7.3 percent and Bessemer at 5.2 percent.
