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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division

Alabama Labor Market Information Division

Recent Updates



May 2018
Unemployment Situation
Seasonally Adjusted May 2018
Preliminary 		April 2018
Revised
Alabama:
3.9%
3.8%
United States:
3.8%
3.9%

Alabama’s wage and salary employment measured 2,042,400 in May, a ten-year high. The last time it measured at or above this level was in December 2007, when it measured 2,045,800.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 21,600, with gains in the manufacturing sector (+4,600), the leisure and hospitality sector (+4,400), and the professional and business services sector (+4,000), among others.

Wage and salary employment increased in May by 7,000. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+2,300), the manufacturing sector (+1,800), and the education and health services sector (+1,300), among others.

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate is 3.9%, an increase from April’s rate of 3.8%, and well below May 2017’s rate of 4.6%. In May, 2,091,439 people were counted as employed, up 5,081 from April, and up 21,277 from May 2017. May’s rate represents 85,634 unemployed persons, compared to 83,151 in April and 98,713 in May 2017.

The last time employment measured 2,091,439 or more was in April 2007, when it measured 2,091,857.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.7%, Cullman County at 3.1%, and Marshall, Elmore, and Baldwin Counties at 3.2%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 8.9%, Greene County at 7.2%, and Clarke County at 6.9%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 2.4%, Homewood at 2.5%, and Alabaster at 2.6%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 6.2%, Prichard at 6.1%, and Anniston at 5.5%.



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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