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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division

Alabama Labor Market Information Division

Recent Updates



March 2018
Unemployment Situation
Seasonally Adjusted March 2018
Preliminary 		February 2018
Revised
Alabama:
3.8%
3.7%
United States:
4.1%
4.1%

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted March unemployment rate is 3.8%, up slightly from February’s rate of 3.7%, and well below March 2017’s rate of 5.0%. March’s rate represents 81,229 unemployed persons, compared to 80,571 in February and 109,645 in March 2017. 2,081,906 people were counted as employed, up from February’s count of 2,080,346, and significantly higher than March 2017’s count of 2,063,770.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 20,100, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (+4,400), the professional and business services sector (+3,400), and the education and health services sector (+3,400), among others.

Wage and salary employment increased in March by 12,600. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+4,600), the professional and business services sector (+2,500), the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+1,900), and the construction sector (+1,600), among others.

Average weekly earnings in the construction sector were $975.53 in March, the highest in a decade, up $64.25 from February, and up $87.99 from March 2017. Average weekly earnings for all private industry were $811.01 in March, up $4.96 from February, and up $28.16 from March 2017.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.8%, Cullman County at 3.2%, and Marshall County at 3.3%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 9.4%, Clarke County at 7.4%, and Lowndes County at 6.9%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 2.4%, Homewood at 2.6%, and Alabaster, Hoover, and Northport at 2.8%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard at 6.9%, Selma at 6.4%, and Anniston at 5.7%.



Training Opportunities

Training 2018 Labor Market Information training dates and locations are now available!  Click here for information, and here to register.
Unemployment Snapshot
HWOL The Help Wanted Online Data Series™ fills a critical gap in the current U.S. economic indicators by providing timely monthly measures of labor demand (advertised vacancies) at the national, regional, State and metropolitan area levels. These monthly measures are comparable in timing and geographic detail to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly measures of labor supply (unemployment).

Descriptions of various products and reports can be found in the 2012 Labor Market Information Users Guide.

The Catalogue of Workforce Information Sources, formerly the Environmental Scan, has been finalized by the Employment and Training Administration.  You can find it here.

Click here for information about job terminations in Alabama.

Programs and Data


Employment Statistics
Information relating to employment, hours, and earnings estimates for the State of Alabama and employment estimates for the metropolitan areas by detailed industry.

Occupational Safety and Health Statistics
Information relating to occupational illnesses as well as fatal and non-fatal injuries. Statewide and national data is available.

Occupational Statistics
Information relating to the changing workforce in the state. Data include estimated and projected employment with annual average job openings, occupational wages for both the state and metropolitan areas, and a synopsis of information on selected occupations relevant to the state.

Quarterly Employment and Wages
Comprehensive employment and wage data by industry and county and state for workers covered by unemployment insurance laws.

Statistical Bulletin
Information relating to covered employment, unemployment compensation and employment service activities. Data include quarterly and annual covered employment and wages, benefit payments and contributions by industry and county, and applicant and placement data. Select most recent month or historical months.

Unemployment Statistics
Information relating to the labor force, employment, and unemployment for the State of Alabama, metropolitan areas, counties, and cities.

Workforce Development
Information relating to workforce development and reports published in co-operation with our Workforce Development Unit. Census Local Area Dynamics, and Alabama Labor Supply are just some of the options.
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