MONTGOMERY – Data collected and analyzed by the Alabama Department of Labor’s Labor Market Information (LMI) Division shows that as of April 2021, the yearly total of online job ads is 84,986, up 69% from April 2020. The monthly total of online job ads for April 2021 is up 15.5% with 29,049 new online ads.
The five occupations with the most online wanted ads continue to be for registered nurses, retail salespersons, sales representatives, customer service representatives, and truck drivers with 13,667 ads placed for those occupations in April.
The HWOL data is compiled from all online job postings in the state, including those posted on the state’s free online jobs database, AlabamaWorks.alabama.gov, and other sources; such as traditional job boards, corporate boards, and social media sites.
Twelve percent of job ads have salaries of $75,000 and above; 13% have salaries in the $50-75,000 range; 20% have salaries in the $35-49,000 range; and 55% have salaries of $35,000 or under.
The top three employers posting ads in April were: UAB Health System (1,198), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (781), and the University of South Alabama (586). These were followed by Encompass Heath (554), St. Vincent’s Health System (505), Lowe’s (502), Regions (399), Huntsville Hospital (394), Aramark (393), and the University of Alabama (383) to round out the top 10 employers with the most online ads.
Industrial Machinery Mechanics are the focus of this month’s in-depth analysis by the LMI division. The median annual salary is advertised as $37,309 with 25% earning more than $43,002. Those employed within this occupation are expected to repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. Typically, this occupation requires training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate degree. In Alabama, this occupation is in average demand with 457 new ads in the past year.
| TOP OCCUPATIONS WITH MOST ONLINE ADS | Online Ads April 2021 |
Online Ads April 2020 |
Change (Percent) | Average Hourly Wage |
| Registered Nurses | 3,969 | 2,200 | 80.4% | $29.55 |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,874 | 1,696 | 69.5% | $14.14 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 2,511 | 1,404 | 78.8% | $34.52 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,320 | 1,185 | 95.8% | $17.36 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,993 | 972 | 105.0% | $21.85 |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | 1,505 | 668 | 125.3% | $9.59 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 1,414 | 679 | 108.2% | $17.76 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,323 | 693 | 90.9% | $14.27 |
| Software Developers | 1,252 | 1,065 | 17.6% | $50.48 |
| Food Service Managers | 1,133 | 720 | 57.4% | $28.82 |
Media Release/Alabama Department of Labor
