MONTGOMERY – Data collected and analyzed by the Alabama Department of Labor’s Labor Market Information (LMI) Division shows that as of August 2021, the yearly comparison of online job ads is 87,491, up 72% from August 2020. The monthly total of online job ads for August 2021 is down 1.4% with 28,854 new online ads.
The five occupations with the most online job ads continue to be for registered nurses, retail salespersons, customer service representatives, sales representatives, and truck drivers with 14,072 ads placed for those occupations in August.
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.
Thirteen percent of job ads have salaries of $75,000 and above; 14% have salaries in the $50-75,000 range; 21% have salaries in the $35-49,000 range; and 52% have salaries of $35,000 or under.
The two employers posting the most online ads in August were: UAB Health System (1,465) and Huntsville Hospital (999). These were followed by Encompass Health (676), University of South Alabama (605), Lowe’s (591), Regions (559), St. Vincent’s Health System (558), University of Alabama at Birmingham (551), Aramark (450), and Baptist Health (446) to round out the top 10.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers are the focus of this month’s in-depth analysis by the LMI division. The median annual salary is advertised as $61,927 with 25% earning more than $68,815. In the last 12 months there were 490 online ads for this occupation. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Within the state of Alabama, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers have a good outlook during the period of 2018-2028. This occupation is expected to have over 95 Average Annual Total Openings statewide.
| TOP OCCUPATIONS WITH MOST ONLINE ADS | Online Ads August 2021 |
Online Ads August 2020 |
Change (Percent) | Average Hourly Wage |
| Registered Nurses | 4,439 | 2,419 | 83.5% | $29.74 |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,963 | 1,981 | 49.6% | $14.07 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,445 | 1,273 | 92.1% | $17.55 |
| Sales Reps, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 2,259 | 1,379 | 63.8% | $34.36 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,966 | 917 | 114.4% | $22.14 |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | 1,570 | 838 | 87.4% | $9.77 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 1,314 | 879 | 49.5% | $17.91 |
| Software Developers, Applications | 1,303 | 687 | 89.7% | $50.81 |
| Food Service Managers | 1,295 | 598 | 116.6% | $29.15 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,273 | 756 | 68.4% | $14.45 |
| Source: Alabama Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Division in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The above wage data is based on the May 2020 Occupational Employment Statistics employment and wage estimate file. Employment Cost Index (ECI) factors have been applied to bring data current through June 2021. ‘NA’ indicates data that is not publishable, or occupation does not work the traditional 2,080 hours per year. | ||||
Media Release/Alabama Department of Labor/Public Information Officer Kelly Betts
