FROM STAFF REPORTS

Unemployment in Alabama, Shelby County and the largest local municipalities was at a record low in July.

Alabama set four new economic records in July, Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced. July’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, setting a new record low, beating last month’s previous record low of 3.5 percent.

July’s rate represents 2,171,721 employed people, a new record high, measuring 11,244 more than last month’s count, and 57,413 more than in July 2018.

“More than 57,000 Alabamians have jobs today that didn’t a year ago,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “That means that 57,000 more Alabamians have work and are contributing to their communities and our state. The effort we are making to bring jobs and employers to Alabama is working. We are consistently improving our workforce and preparing Alabama for the future.”

All 67 counties saw declines in their over-the-year unemployment rates, with drops ranging from more than half of a percentage point to more than three percentage points.  Sixty-four of 67 counties saw no increase or a decline in their over-the-month unemployment rates, as well.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Shelby County at 2.1 percent, Marshall County at 2.4 percent, and Elmore and Baldwin Counties at 2.5 percent.

Shelby County’s rate was a decrease from last month’s rate of 2.5 percent and the July 2018 rate of 3 percent.

Rates for counties bordering Shelby included Jefferson County at 2.9 percent, St. Clair County at 2.7 percent, Talladega County at 3.5 percent, Coosa County at 3.1 percent, Chilton County at 2.7 percent and Bibb County at 3 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox County at 7.5 percent, Greene County at 7 percent and Perry County at 6.7 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were Vestavia Hills at 1.7 percent, Homewood and Alabaster at 2 percent, and Hoover at 2.1 percent.

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates were Selma at 7.3 percent, Prichard at 6.2 percent and Anniston at 4.6 percent.

“I’m proud to see our unemployment rate decrease and continue to reach record lows,” Washington said. “This month we also saw the number of people counted as unemployed fall to its lowest count ever.  More people are joining the workforce, with the expectation that they will find work, and, for the most part, they are.  But even as we celebrate these records, we know that there is still work to be done.  We’re proving month after month that Alabama has good, quality jobs.  We stand ready to assist anyone who’s ready to work.”