Alabama’s unemployment rate decreased from 4.3 percent in January to 4 percent in February, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. February’s seasonally adjusted rate represents 91,065 unemployed people, down from 97,726 in January. That compares to 58,639 in February 2020.
“The unemployment rate continues to drop and is getting closer to the lows we enjoyed pre-pandemic,” said ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “While this is good news, the number of unemployed people is still higher than last year. Employment assistance is the key to helping reduce this number and the Alabama Career Center System can help. There are 52 locations around the state that can help the unemployed and the underemployed.”
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.6 percent in February 2020, just before lockdowns began and the rate soared. Last month’s rate was the lowest since the start of the pandemic.
Washington said that as new COVID-19 cases decrease and vaccinations increase, he hopes to see improvements across all industries.
“In addition, as travel picks up and thoughts turn to vacations, the leisure and hospitality industry should see their numbers looking even better,” he said.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates:
- Shelby County at 2.1 percent
- Blount and Cullman Counties at 2.2 percent and
- Franklin and Limestone Counties at 2.3 percent
Counties with the highest unemployment rate:
- Wilcox County at 11.7 percent
- Lowndes County at 11.6 percent
- Perry County at 9 percent
- Dallas County at 8.2 percent
Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates:
- Alabaster at 1.8 percent
- Homewood at 1.9 percent
- Madison and Vestavia, both at 2 percent
Major cities with the highest unemployment rates:
- Prichard at 11.1 percent
- Selma at 10.3 percent
- Bessemer at 7.3 percent
