Alabama’s overall labor force participation rate was unchanged in March at 57.4%, though the percentage of “prime age” workers, those ages 25 to 54, ticked up slightly to 78.9% from February to March.
It’s up from 77.4% a year ago.
“The number of prime age people that are holding down jobs continues to increase,” Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said Friday in a written statement. “That number is very close to a full 80% of prime age individuals working. We remain hopeful that this trend will continue throughout the year, especially as the state works to raise its overall labor force participation rate.”
That rate lags the national average and increasing it is right now a focus in the Alabama Legislature. Bills to change high school diploma requirements for those who will go directly into the workforce and offer tax credits to employers who help pay for workers’ child care costs are a few of those pending in the State House right now.
The state’s unemployment rate was also unchanged from 3% in February and up from 2.7% last year. That 3% represents 70,894 unemployed people currently looking for work, compared to 69,057 in February and 52,332 in March.
“Nearly 40,000 more people have entered the workforce since last year,” Washington said. “More people are employed than last year, and we’ve increased the number of jobs our economy is supporting. Our metrics are looking great right now.”
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 38,900 to 2,187,200, including gains in the private education and health services sector, the government sector, and manufacturing.
Nearly 40,000 more people have entered the workforce since last year,” continued Washington. “More people are employed than last year, and we’ve increased the number of jobs our economy is supporting. Our metrics are looking great right now.”
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates in March were: Shelby, 2.3%; Morgan, Marshall, and Cullman, 2.5%, and Madison, Limestone, Elmore and Autauga, 2.6%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were: Vestavia Hills, 2%, Alabaster; Homewood, and Madison, 2.1%; and Hoover and Trussville, 2.2%.