Employment records 'shattered' after another historic month

The number of people counted as employed in the Yellowhammer State is once again at a record high under Governor Kay Ivey’s Administration.

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington made the announcement in a statement on Friday.

“Once again, we’ve shattered employment records in Alabama,” Washington said. “More people are working now than ever before in Alabama’s history. Employers are continuing to post jobs, companies are moving operations, and our existing businesses are expanding, all of which is great news for Alabamians.”

2,132,578 people were counted as employed in March, up from 2,127,676 in February, and up 28,953 from March 2018’s count of 2,103,625.

Additionally, Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted March unemployment rate is 3.7 percent, unchanged from February and remaining at a record low, and well below March 2018’s rate of 4.0 percent.

The current rate represents 82,368 unemployed persons, compared to 88,723 in March 2018.

And the good news does not end there.

“We’re seeing great growth in some of our high wage sectors as well,” Washington advised. “Building construction employment has increased by nearly 11 percent over the year, and aerospace parts and manufacturing is right behind it with more than 10 percent growth.”

Building construction employment increased to 21,200 in March, representing a yearly growth of 10.99 percent, while aerospace products and parts manufacturing employment increased to 13,100, representing a yearly growth of 10.08 percent.

Wage and salary employment increased over the year by 33,200. Sectors showing the most over-the-year growth were: leisure and hospitality (+5,900), professional and business services (+5,600) and manufacturing (+4,700), among others.

Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+3,400), the construction sector (+2,500) and the professional and business services sector (+2,000), among others.

Construction sector weekly earnings also showed tremendous growth over-the-month, rising to a record high of $1010.21, representing a $61.39 increase from February, and marking the first time in history this sector’s average earnings exceeded $1000.

Unemployment rates by county, March 2019@GovernorKayIvey @ADOLSecretary pic.twitter.com/GDGYzkmgno

— ADOL (@al_labor) April 19, 2019

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.8 percent; Marshall County at 3.2 percent; and Morgan, Madison, and Elmore Counties at 3.3 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 8.4 percent; Lowndes County at 6.7 percent; and Clarke County at 6.5 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Homewood and Northport at 2.6 percent; Hoover and Vestavia Hills at 2.7 percent; and Alabaster at 2.8 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 7.5 percent; Prichard at 6.1 percent; and Anniston at 5.3 percent.