Alabama Department of Labor

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate is 4.9%, down from April’s rate of 5.4%, and significantly lower than May 2016’s rate of 5.8%. May’s rate represents 107,364 unemployed persons, compared to 119,113 in April and 125,153 in May 2016. May’s rate represents 2,089,217 employed persons, compared to 2,088,764 in April and 2,038,912 in May 2016.

The last time Alabama’s unemployment rate was at or below 4.9% was March 2008 when it measured 4.8%. The last time Current Population Survey (CPS) employment measured at or above 2,089,217 was March 2007, when it measured 2,090,126.

Wage and salary employment, totaling 2,014,600, increased in May by 13,100. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+6,100), the construction sector (+3,100), and the manufacturing sector (+1,500), among others.

The only other times wage and salary employment surpassed 2,014,600 were in December 2007 (2,026,700), November 2007 (2,022,000), and June 2007 (2,018,400).

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 33,000, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (+7,500), the manufacturing sector (+6,300), and the education and health services sector (+6,000), among others.

All metropolitan areas had rate decreases both over the month and over the year. Only one county (Sumter) experienced a rate increase over the month, and all counties saw their rates drop over the year.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 3.1%, Elmore County at 3.4%, and Cullman County at 3.5%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 10.9%, Clarke County at 8.0%, and Lowndes County at 7.4%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 2.7%, Homewood at 2.8%, and Hoover at 3.0%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard at 7.4%, Selma at 7.3%, and Anniston at 5.6%.