Alabama's labor force participation rate for May held steady at 57.5%, according to Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington.
The participation percentage of prime-age workers increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 79.2% over the month. Year over year, this number increased by 1.6% from 77.6%. Prime-age workers are those aged 25-54 years.
"Our over-the-year growth in prime-age workers participating in the labor force continues to be encouraging," Washington said. "We're also seeing record high numbers in our civilian labor force and the number of people who are working. In May, nearly 38,000 more people decided to enter into the job market than at the same time last year."
Alabama's preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.0%, down from April 2023's revised rate of 3.1%. The May rate is higher than May 2023's unemployment rate of 2.3%. The rate represents 70,679 unemployed, compared to 72,045 in April and 52,341 in May 2023.
The number of people counted as employed increased by 19,648 over the year to 2,266,164, a new record high. The civilian labor force also increased to 2,336,843, with 37,986 more people joining over the year. This is also a new record high.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 1.8%, Morgan County at 1.9%, and Cullman, Elmore, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall Counties at 2.0%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 6.8%, Perry County at 4.5% and Dallas County at 4.4%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are Trussville at 1.6%, Homewood and Vestavia Hills at 1.7%, and Alabaster, Hoover, and Madison at 1.8%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Selma at 5.3%, Prichard at 4.3% and Bessemer at 3.4% at 3.7%.
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