Over-the-Year Job Growth Surpasses National Growth
MONTGOMERY – Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced today that Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate is unchanged at 2.7%, a record low, and well below February 2019’s rate of 3.5%. February’s rate represents 2,184,248 employed persons, up 23,325 over the year.
Wage and salary employment increased in February by 13,000. Monthly gains were seen in the professional and business sector (+5,000), the education and health services sector (+4,200), and the government sector (+3,300), among others. Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 21,300, with gains in the government sector (+6,600), the education and health services sector (+5,300), and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+2,800), among others.
Average weekly total private wages increased to $878.55 in February, up from $872.50 in January, and $842.75 in February 2019.
The following sectors saw record high wages in February 2020:
- Trade, transportation, and utilities $728.94
- Financial Activities
$1,144.94 - Leisure & Hospitality
$336.69
All 67 counties experienced over-the-year rate drops, and 65 of 67 counties saw experienced over-the-month rate drops.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.1%, Madison County at 2.3%, and Tuscaloosa, Morgan, Marshall, Limestone, and Lee Counties at 2.4%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 8.5%, Clarke County at 5.6%, and Greene County at 5.5%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 1.6%, Homewood, Hoover, and Northport at 1.9%, and Madison at 2.0%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 5.9%, Prichard at 5.8%, and Gadsden at 4.7%.
*NOTE: February’s data will NOT reflect any COVID-19 related layoffs or shutdowns.
Media Release/Tara Hutchison/Alabama Department of Labor
