Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed announced on Friday that the state’s April preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 2.8%, up from March’s rate of 2.7%, and below April 2025’s rate of 2.9%.
The rate represents 67,115 unemployed, compared to 65,467 in March and 69,951 in April 2025. The April workforce participation rate was 57.3%.
The number of people counted as employed increased by 3,579 over the year to 2,311,287. The civilian labor force also increased to 2,378,402, with 1,103 more people joining over the year. Prime-aged workers (25-54 years old) are working at a rate of 79.3%.
Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 13,200 to a new record high of 2,211,300, with gains in the government sector (+4,700), the private education and health services sector (+4,100), and the leisure and hospitality sector (+3,400), among others.
“Construction and manufacturing are among the most vital sectors of our economy,” Reed said. “When we continue to see growth and, even more importantly, wage growth, in these sectors, that signifies sustained economic growth. Additionally, we are continuing to see Alabama employers adding jobs and hiring workers at record levels.”
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby and Elmore Counties at 2.0%; Morgan, Marshall, Limestone, Lee, Chilton, Chambers, and Blount Counties at 2.1%; and Madison, Lawrence, Franklin, DeKalb, Cleburne, Baldwin, and Autauga Counties at 2.2%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Greene County at 5.5%, Monroe and Perry Counties at 5.3%, and Wilcox County at 4.9%.
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Trussville and Pelham at 1.7%, Vestavia Hills at 1.8%, and Alabaster at 1.9%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard at 5.4%, Selma at 4.7%, and Bessemer at 3.8%.
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