Ala. unemployment rises 10.9 percent

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The unemployment rate in Alabama has risen to its highest rate in more than 25 years.

State officials said Friday the rate rose to 10.9 percent in October. That's up from 10.7 percent in September and the highest rate in the state since unemployment was at 10.9 percent in February 1984.

Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said the rate represents nearly 227,000 people who were unemployed in the state in October.

The unemployment rate was the highest in Wilcox County, at 25.1 percent. Unemployment was the lowest in Shelby County, with 7.4 percent.