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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division

Alabama Labor Market Information Division

Recent Updates


May 2019
Unemployment Situation
Seasonally Adjusted May 2019
Preliminary 		April 2019
Revised
Alabama:
3.7%
3.8%
United States:
3.6%
3.6%

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate is 3.7%, down from April’s rate of 3.8%, and well below May 2018’s rate of 4.1%. May’s rate ties with March and February 2019’s rates for the lowest unemployment rate in Alabama history.

The number of people counted as employed in May rose to 2,150,481, another record high. The count represents a yearly increase of 40,720 people.

Over-the-year job growth (May 2018-May 2019, not seasonally adjusted) in Alabama measured 1.9%, while job growth in the U.S. over the same time period measured 1.5%.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 38,800, with gains in the professional and business services sector (+8,900), the leisure and hospitality sector (+7,300), and the construction sector (+6,700), among others.

Wage and salary employment also increased over the month, growing by 7,100. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+2,600), the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+2,000), and the government sector (+1,000), among others.

Additionally, the civilian labor force increased to 2,233,045 in May, representing its highest level ever. The civilian labor force represents the number of people, aged 16 and over, who are either working or looking for work, excluding the military and those in institutions.

All 67 counties experienced both over-the-month and over-the-year unemployment rate decreases. Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.1%, Marshall County at 2.3%, and Morgan and Elmore Counties at 2.4%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 6.6%, Greene County at 5.7%, and Lowndes County at 5.6%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 1.8%, Homewood at 1.9%, and Alabaster and Hoover at 2.1%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 6.2%, Prichard at 5.4%, and Anniston at 4.1%.

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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