Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate is 3.0%, up from April 2026’s rate of 2.8%. May’s rate is above May 2025’s rate of 2.9%. The rate represents 72,082 unemployed persons, compared to 67,102 in April and 68,517 in May 2025.
The number of people counted as employed decreased by 4,426 over the year to 2,302,424. The civilian labor force measured 2,374,506 in May.
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 15,200 to 2,219,000, a new record high, with gains in the construction sector (+5,800), the leisure and hospitality sector (+4,700), and the government sector (+4,300), among others.
Average weekly wages increased by $72.01 over the year to $1,169.64.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.7%, Morgan and Elmore Counties at 2.8%, and Marshall, Madison, Limestone, Chambers, and Blount Counties at 2.9%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Greene and Monroe Counties at 6.2%, Perry County at 6.0%, and Wilcox County at 5.7%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Pelham at 2.4%, Trussville at 2.5%, and Vestavia Hills, Hoover, and Alabaster at 2.6%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard at 6.0%, Selma at 5.3%, and Bessemer at 4.9%.