County unemployment rate higher than state

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Franklin County's unemployment numbers remain at a higher level than the state average.
The county's unemployment rate for November was up to 9.3 percent.
Alabama's unemployment rate for November is 6.1 percent, Tom Surtees, Director of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, announced Friday.
This represents an increase from October's revised rate of 5.5 percent, and from the 2007 November rate of 3.7 percent. The rate remains below the national average of 6.7 percent.
"While we are experiencing an increase in our unemployment rate, it is important to note that Alabama is in much better shape than other states," said Surtees. "This is due to the fact that Alabama has seen exceptional job growth over the past six years.
"We have seen net job increases of over 100,000 since 2003.
"This increase has enabled us to weather this economic downturn better than some other states."
This month's unemployment rate represents an increase of 10,983 additional unemployed persons.
The manufacturing sector experienced the largest decrease in jobs, while the trade, transportation, and utilities sector experienced the largest increase.
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County, at 3.9 percent, Madison County, at 4.1 percent, and Tuscaloosa County, at 4.6 percent. The counties with the highest rates are Chambers County, at 14.6 percent, Wilcox County, at 14.0 percent, and Bullock County, at 12.1 percent.