MONTGOMERY – Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced today that the number of people counted as working in Alabama has reached 2,098,377, a record high. Additionally, Alabama’s economy is supporting more jobs than ever before, with employers reporting 2,050,400 positions.
“More Alabamians are employed than we have ever seen,” said Washington. “More people are entering the workforce, optimistic that they will find work, and they are finding it. Employers are telling us that they are supporting more positions than ever before. Jobs are available in Alabama, and even more are being announced every day. Alabama is working!”
June employment data measures 2,098,377 employed persons, compared to 2,091,505 in May and 2,073,795 in June 2017. 89,353 people were counted as unemployed, up from 85,589 in and below 93,997 in June 2017. June’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 4.1%, up from May’s rate of 3.9%, and below June 2017’s rate of 4.3%.
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 23,800, with gains in the professional and business services sector (+7,800), the manufacturing sector (+6,100), and the leisure and hospitality sector (+5,000), among others.
Wage and salary employment increased in June by 7,500. Monthly gains were seen in the professional and business services sector (+5,000), the manufacturing sector (+2,200), and the leisure and hospitality sector (+1,300), among others.
“As we are experiencing job growth, we’re also seeing our wages increase,” continued Washington. “Workers are earning on average more than $30 per week more now than they were last year, and we’ve also seen wages increase in the construction, manufacturing, and professional and business services industries.”
Private sector average weekly wages increased over the year by $30.71, from $783.66 in June 2017 to $814.37 in June 2018.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 3.7%, Elmore, Cullman, and Baldwin Counties at 4.2%, and Marshall County at 4.3%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 11.4%, Clarke County at 9.3%, and Perry County at 9.2%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 3.3%, Alabaster at 3.5%, and Homewood and Hoover at 3.6%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard and Selma at 8.9%, Anniston at 6.7%, and Bessemer at 6.4%.
Media Release/Alabama Department of Labor/Tara Hutchison, Communications Director
