State maintains record low 2.6% unemployment rate

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September 16, 2022

Alabama’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6% for the month of August, according to updated labor statistics released Friday.

The historically low unemployment rate sits well below August 2021’s rate of 3.3%. August’s rate represents a record low for unemployed individuals, which is 58,958.

The refreshed labor statistics prove that the Yellowhammer State’s economy continues to trend in a positive direction, according to Gov. Kay Ivey.

“Alabama continues to maintain its record setting recovery with this month’s numbers,” said Ivey in a release. “All of our metrics continue to move in the right direction, and we’re seeing more and more people joining our labor force. This positive news displays that Alabamians are confident they can land a job. Opportunities abound in Alabama, and we’re proud of our continued progress.”

Reaching a record high was the amount of people counted as employed, which is 2,234,669. The figure represents a yearly increase of 67,881.

An increase in the civilian labor force in August also raised its level to a record high, gaining 52,334 people over the year to total 2,293,627.

Alabama’s expanding construction industry, Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said, is an indication the state is on a positive growth trajectory.

“We continue to add jobs to our economy at a good pace,” said Washington. “Right now, there are around two available jobs for every unemployed person. Our construction industry is thriving, and growing construction employment generally tends to predict positive economic growth.”

The construction, education and health services, trade, transportation and utilities sectors led yearly gains in wage and salary employment.

Leading monthly wage and salary employment gains were the professional and business services, education and health services, and government sectors.

All 67 counties saw their unemployment rates decline over year, and all counties saw their unemployment rates hold steady or decline over the month, according to the governor’s office.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are as follows: