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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division

Alabama Labor Market Information Division

Recent Updates


July 2019
Unemployment Situation
Seasonally Adjusted July 2019
Preliminary 		June 2019
Revised
Alabama:
3.3%
3.5%
United States:
3.7%
3.7%

July’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.3%, setting a new record low, beating last month’s previous record low of 3.5%. July’s rate represents 2,171,721 employed people, a new record high, measuring 11,244 more than last month’s count, and 57,413 more than in July 2018.

The number of people counted as unemployed dropped to a new record low of 75,157, which represents a drop of 12,761 people from July 2018.

The civilian labor force increased over the year by 44,652 to a record high 2,246,878. 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.

Over-the-year job growth measured 2.0%, compared to the national growth rate of 1.5%. The only month in 2019 in which Alabama did not match or outpace the national growth was January, when Alabama’s growth rate measured 1.8%, and the national rate was 2.0%.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 40,200, with gains in the professional and business services sector (+8,700), the leisure and hospitality sector (+7,700), and the education and health services sector (+5,000), among others.

Four sectors saw record high levels of employment in July: transportation equipment manufacturing (66,600), motor vehicle manufacturing (14,100), leisure and hospitality (219,200), and computer systems design (26,300).

All 67 counties saw declines in their over-the-year unemployment rates, with drops ranging from more than half of a percentage point to more than three percentage points. Sixty-four of 67 counties saw no increase or a decline in their over-the-month unemployment rates, as well.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.1%, Marshall County at 2.4%, and Elmore and Baldwin Counties at 2.5%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 7.5%, Greene County at 7.0%, and Perry County at 6.7%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 1.7%, Homewood and Alabaster at 2.0%, and Hoover at 2.1%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 7.3%, Prichard at 6.2%, and Anniston at 4.6%.

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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