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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division

Alabama Labor Market Information Division

Recent Updates


September 2019
Unemployment Situation
Seasonally Adjusted September 2019
Preliminary 		August 2019
Revised
Alabama:
3.0%
3.1%
United States:
3.5%
3.7%

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted September unemployment rate is 3.0%, a new series low, down from August’s previous record setting rate of 3.1%, and below September 2018’s rate of 3.8%. September’s rate represents 2,194,158 employed persons, a new record high, up 75,426 from September 2018’s count. There were 66,919 unemployed persons counted in September, setting yet another record low, compared to 70,608 in August and 84,568 in September 2018.

The civilian labor force grew to 2,261,077, a new high, up from 2,255,088 in August and 2,203,300 in September 2018.

Alabama has matched or surpassed the national annual job growth rate for the past seven months.

Alabama’s economy has gained 55,900 jobs since January 2019. Economists predicted that 2019 total job growth would measure 22,200 (source: 2019 Alabama Economic Outlook, published by the Center for Business and Economic Research, Culverhouse College of Business, University of Alabama).

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 46,600 to a new record high of 2,093,800, with gains in the professional and business services sector (+11,900), the leisure and hospitality sector (+9,400), and the education and health services sector (+5,400), among others. This represents 2019’s highest over-the-year job growth percentage at 2.3%, which surpassed the national job growth percentage of 1.4%. This is the eighth consecutive month in which Alabama’s job growth percentage either sustained or surpassed the national job growth percentage.

Wage and salary employment increased in August by 10,600. Monthly gains were seen in the government sector (+8,100), the education and health services sector (+2,200), and the manufacturing sector (+1,300), among others.

Total private average weekly earnings increased by $11.97 over the month to $862.70, which also represents an over-the-year increase of $12.81. The only time average weekly earnings were higher was in December 2018, when they measured $866.63.

All counties and major cities experienced rate drops both over-the-month and over-the-year. Wilcox County, which is traditionally the county with the highest unemployment rate, saw its rate reach a record low in September at 6.2%.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 1.9%, Morgan, Marshall, Madison, and Limestone Counties at 2.1%, and Tuscaloosa, Lee, Elmore, Cullman, Crenshaw, and Baldwin Counties at 2.2%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 6.2%, Dallas County at 5.2%, and Clarke County at 5.1%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Northport at 1.5%, Vestavia Hills at 1.6%, and Homewood at 1.7%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 5.9%, Prichard at 4.9%, and Bessemer at 3.7%.
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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