Gov. Kay Ivey’s office revealed data today from the Alabama Department of Labor showing that the preliminary, seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate hit 3.5 percent, a record low according to Ivey.
The number, down slightly from October’s 3.6 percent rate, showed 75,807 unemployed, compared to 77,231 in October and 136,135 in November 2016.
“It was just last month when we reached the extraordinary milestone of breaking all previous unemployment rate records, but now just a month later the trend continues and we have once again broken those records,” Ivey said in a statement. “This continued historic decline in our unemployment rate, coupled with the fact that Alabama’s businesses are employing more Alabamians than ever before, shows that we are truly moving forward and proving to everyone that Alabama is a great place to live and do business.”
“We have 30,500 more jobs now than we did last year, over 40,000 more people are working, and the number of unemployed has dropped by over 60,000 from last year – the fewest number of people counted as unemployed in Alabama history! We will continue our work to ensure that any Alabamian who wants a job, can find one,” she added.
Alabama Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington credited construction and manufacturing gains for the record numbers.
“Our construction employment, currently measuring 91,500, is at one of its highest levels in more than eight years,” Washington said in a statement. “Construction employment is an indicator of economic stability, and we have seen a steady increase in construction employment for most of this year. Additionally, our manufacturing employment is at its highest level in nearly nine years, nearing 2008 levels, which are pre-recessionary in Alabama.”
Shelby County, with an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent, led the state with the lowest numbers. Not far behind were Marshall and Cullman Counties at 3.0 percent, and Madison, Lee, and Elmore Counties at 3.1 percent.
Among Alabama’s cities, Birmingham’s southern suburbs had the lowest levels. Vestavia Hills came in at 2.4 percent, Homewood at 2.5 percent, and Alabaster and Hoover in at 2.6 percent.
At the opposite end of the spectrum with the highest unemployment rates was Wilcox County at 9.3 percent, Clarke County at 6.7 percent and Lowndes County at 6.4 percent. Alabama’s cities with the highest unemployment rates were Selma at 6.6 percent, Prichard at 6.5 percent, and Anniston and Bessemer at 4.9 percent.
Jeff Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and works as the editor of Breitbart TV.
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