Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Economy

Alabama unemployment rate holds steady at 2.6 percent

The rate is unchanged from December 2022’s revised rate and also unchanged from January 2022’s rate.

STOCK
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Governor Kay Ivey announced today that Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate is 2.6 percent, unchanged from December 2022’s revised rate, and also unchanged from January 2022’s rate.  January’s rate represents 58,411 unemployed persons compared to 59,986 in December and 60,270 in January 2022.

“I’m proud to kick off 2023 with a continuation of Alabama’s lowest ever unemployment rate,” said Governor Ivey. “We have been enjoying a period of low unemployment, high wages and high jobs count for some time now, and I believe that more is yet to come. We will not back down on our commitment to continue to bring quality, high-paying jobs to Alabama.”

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 54,100, with gains in the manufacturing sector (+10,400), the professional and business services sector (+8,700) and the private education and health services sector (+7,500), among others.

“Additionally, we’re continuing to see positive increases in our wages, meaning more money in Alabamians’ pockets,” said Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington.  “This month, we reached one of our highest average weekly wages in history.”

Total private wages increased by $30.12/weekly over the year to $1,008.61 in January, marking the third highest weekly wages in history.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 1.8 percent, Morgan County at 2.0 percent, and Marshall, Madison, Limestone and Cullman Counties at 2.1 percent. 

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 8.8 percent, Clarke County at 5.9 percent and Dallas County at 5.4 percent.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Homewood at 1.6 percent, Madison at 1.7 percent, and Alabaster, Trussville and Vestavia Hills at 1.8 percent. 

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 6.4 percent, Prichard at 5.2 percent and Bessemer at 4.2 percent.

The Alabama Political Reporter is a daily political news site devoted to Alabama politics. We provide accurate, reliable coverage of policy, elections and government.

More from APR

Economy

The preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 2.9 percent from December's 2.8 percent.

Economy

The processing facility is expected to create 120 jobs in Dothan.

Opinion

Alabama’s right-to-work law is vital to our economic success.

Economy

This ambitious initiative marks a new chapter in Alabama's economic development.