Shelby County’s unemployment rate for October was above the rate from September and October 2015, and still the lowest in Alabama.

The county’s preliminary jobless rate for October was 4.5 percent, according to information released by Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington.

Shelby County’s revised rate was 4.2 percent in September and 4.1 percent in October 2015.

The October rate represents 4,952 unemployed people out of a civilian labor force of 109,353.

Hoover, at 4.4 percent, had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state among major cities.

The city’s jobless rate was 4.1 percent in September and 4.1 percent in October 2015.

Alabaster’s unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in October, 4.3 percent in September and 4.3 percent in October 2015.

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate is 5.7 percent, up from September’s rate of 5.4 percent, and well below October 2015’s rate of 6.1 percent.

October’s rate represents 123,892 unemployed persons, compared to 117,100 in September and 131,421 in October 2015.

“An extremely large increase in the number of people who are looking for work combined with an increase in the number of people working in October led to an increase in our unemployment rate,” Washington said in a release. “More than 16,000 people entered the workforce in October, and nearly 10,000 more people found work. Compared to last year, nearly 40,000 more people are in the work force and almost 50,000 more people are working. This shows a marked increase in the confidence level of jobseekers.”

The number of people in the Civilian Labor Force increased in October to 2,182,384, representing an increase of 16,755 over the month. Over the year, the CLF increased by 39,805.

The number of people who were counted as employed increased 9,963 over the month. Over the year, the number of people counted as employed increased 47,334.

“Our other measure of employment, the establishment survey, is also at its highest point of the year,” Washington said. “This survey tells us that Alabama’s employers have more people on the payroll than they have at any time since September 2008.”

Wage and salary employment measured 1,982,400 in October, representing an increase of 11,900 over the month.

Monthly gains were seen in the government sector (5,000), the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (4,100), and the professional and business services sector (2,300), among others.

After Shelby, counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Lee County at 5.1 percent, and Cullman, Elmore, and Madison Counties at 5.2 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 13.8 percent, Clarke County at 10.9 percent and Lowndes County at 10.4 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 4 percent, Homewood at 4.1 percent and Hoover at 4.4 percent.

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 10.3 percent, Bessemer at 10.2 percent and Prichard at 9.5 percent.