FROM STAFF REPORTS

While Shelby County’s unemployment rate in September stayed stable at 6.8 percent, the state’s jobless rate continued to trend downward.

Alabama’s rate in September was 9.8 percent, down from August’s rate of 9.9 percent. Shelby County’s unemployment rate in August was 6.8 percent.

Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said September held some positive indicators for the state’s economy.

“For the first time in seven months, we are able to report a decline in the number of initial unemployment compensation claims,” he said in a press release. “In addition, the number of benefits being paid out is at the lowest we’ve seen since October 2008.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rate were Shelby, Coffee at 7.5 percent and Lee at 7.9 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox at 21.5 percent, Perry at 18.2 percent and Dallas at 18 percent.

Unemployed Alabamians can visit Joblink.alabama.gov to view the state’s online jobs database.