County jobless rate up from May 2007

By Staff
Jason Cannon
Franklin County's jobless rate rocketed nearly one full percent for the month of May, settling at 4.9 percent.
That figure is one and a half percent higher than May 2007.
Tom Surtees, director of the state department of industrial relations, said this seasonal spike – which was a statewide trend in May – is nothing uncommon.
"It's very likely this increase in May reflects those who just graduated from college and are out looking for work."
Surtees said that spring and summer unemployment numbers often jump for several reasons and does not reflect a trend in that direction.
In all, 127 additional Franklin County residents filed for unemployment in May bringing the county's total number of out of work residents to 673.
The state's unemployment rate jumped .7 points to 4.7 percent, but remains below the comparable national jobless rate of 5.5 percent.
"Despite the jump in Alabama's rate, it has now been seven years since the state unemployment rate was higher than the U.S. rate," Surtees said.