Bentley annouces drop in unemployment rate for November

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) - The unemployment rate in Alabama fell to 7.5 percent for the month of November, according to Gov. Robert Bentley’s office.

The governor announced on Friday, Dec. 21, that the rate had fallen from October’s rate of 8.1 percent and was down by 0.8 percent from a year ago. The rate is also below the national unemployment rate of 7.7 percent.

Bentley expressed optimism at a trend of attracting more jobs for Alabamians.

“We’re going to continue on the same path of working hard every day to recruit and attract more jobs for this state,” Bentley said. 

While the governor acknowledged that the unemployment rate fluctuates throughout the year, he said this decrease marks a pattern.

 “We are encouraged that the overall trend shows a decreasing unemployment rate, and I will continue my efforts to create more jobs until everyone who wants a job is able to find one,” he said.

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said, “Even if some of the jobs are temporary, that still means that thousands of Alabamians will be able to provide for their families during the holiday season.”

Officials said retail trade employment increased by 3,700 in November, with the bulk of that increase coming from hiring in general merchandise and department stores.

“We also continue to see positive indicators in other areas,” Surtees added.  “We are consistently seeing initial claims and benefits payments at pre-recession levels, and record numbers of active job orders on www.joblink.alabama.gov . Sixty-six of 67 counties experienced a drop in their unemployment rate this month.”

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 4.6 percent, Lee County and Madison County at 5.6 percent, and St. Clair County, Coffee County, Blount County, and Limestone County at 5.7 percent.

The counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 15.9 percent, Bullock County at 14.1 percent, and Dallas County at 13.2 percent.