‘Tis the season for job numbers and Alabama received a mixed package for Christmas.

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.1%, up from October 2024’s rate of 2.9%, according to Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Marty Redden. November’s rate is above November 2023’s rate of 2.8%. The rate represents 73,278 unemployed persons, compared to 69,257 in October and 64,404 in November 2023.

However, the number of people counted as employed increased by 17,150 over the year to 2,278,876. The civilian labor force also increased to 2,352,154, a record high, with 26,024 more people joining over the year.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 37,300 to 2,232,000, also a record high, with gains in the private education and health services sector (+8,800), the leisure and hospitality sector (+6,500), and the government sector (+6,200), among others.

“Alabama employers continue to add jobs at a record pace,” said Redden. “Only a few short years ago, our goal was to break 2 million wage and salary jobs.

“Now, we’re climbing closer and closer to two and a quarter million. This represents remarkable progress.”

Additionally, average total private weekly wages increased by $42.38 over the year to $1,065.50, a new record high.

Several industry sectors in Alabama saw record high employment in November, including: the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (420,100) (tied with record set in 2022), the financial activities sector (105,900), the professional and business services sector (270,800), and the private education and health services sector (277,000).

“We’re seeing great growth in both employment and wages in Alabama,” said Redden. “More people working and more money in their pockets is always welcome news, especially at the holidays.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.6%, Morgan County at 2.7%, and Chilton, Cullman, Madison, Marshall, and St. Clair Counties at 2.8%.  Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 9.3%, Clarke and Greene Counties at 6.6%, and Dallas County at 6.4%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Homewood at 2.3%, Hoover and Vestavia Hills at 2.4%, and Madison at 2.5%.  Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 7.4%, Prichard at 5.8%, and Bessemer at 4.9%.