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Alabama unemployment dips to 3.2% in July

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in July, down from 3.3% in June and 7.4% in July 2020.

That’s a continued drop since a pandemic-high of 13.2% in April 2020. Prior to virus-related slowdowns and shutdowns, the state’s unemployment rate was in the 2% range.

“Each month we edge closer and closer to our pre-pandemic unemployment rate,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a written statement Friday morning. “Employers have added over 73,000 jobs in the past year, and nearly 83,000 more people are working today than they were last year. Industries that were hit the hardest are seeing employment numbers increase monthly. We’ll keep working as hard as we can to continue this remarkable progress.”

Ivey noted the state remains below the July national rate of 5.4%.

July’s rate represents 71,627 unemployed people, compared to 73,769 in June and 165,510 in July 2020, according to the Alabama Department of Labor.

In total, 2,138,925 people were counted as employed in July, up 82,577 from July 2020.

Total private average weekly earnings measured $986.29 in July, a new record high, according to Labor. Meanwhile, the leisure and hospitality sector hit a new record high, with weekly wages rising to $402.98, up $51.56 over the year, and $13.37 over the month.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates in July were: Shelby, 2.1%; Blount, 2.2%; and Cullman and Marshall, 2.3%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wilcox, 11.2%; Lowndes, 9.7%; and Perry at 9.4%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were: Homewood, 1.8%; Vestavia Hills, 2.1%; and Hoover and Madison, 2.2%. .  Major cities with the highest unemployment rates were: Selma, 9.4%, Prichard, 8.1%; and Anniston, 6.2%.

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