Alabama’s unemployment rate reached a new record low of 2.3% in March, compared to 2.5% in both February and March 2022.
March’s rate represents 53,053 unemployed people, compared to 56,166 in February and 58,078 in March 2022.
“We’re almost a quarter into 2023, and we are already seeing record-breaking success when it comes to Alabama’s economy,” Ivey said in a news release. “We have been enjoying a period of low unemployment, high wages and high jobs count for some time now, and I believe that even greater economic achievements are on their way. We will not back down on our commitment to continue bringing quality, high-paying jobs to Alabama.”
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 54,100, with gains in the manufacturing sector (+10,400), the professional and business services sector (+8,700) and the private education and health services sector (+7,500), among others.
While state leaders have celebrated record-low unemployment in the last year, they’re also watching another data point: Labor work participation. The unemployment rate measures the number of Alabamians who are actively seeking work but not those out of the labor market. The state’s workforce participation rate — adults holding or seeking jobs — remained at a seasonally adjusted 56.7% for March.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates were: Shelby, 1.4%; Morgan and Cullman, 1.5% and Blount, Elmore, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and St. Clair, 1.6%.
Counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wilcox, 6.9%; Greene, 4.4%; and Clarke and Dallas, 4.1%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were: Hoover, Madison, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills, 1.3%; Alabaster, Homewood, and Northport, 1.4%; and Athens and Prattville at 1.6%.
Major cities with the highest unemployment rates were: Selma, 5.3%; Prichard, 3.9%; and Bessemer and Gadsden, 2.9%.