When the state unemployment numbers were released Friday, Franklin County’s jobless claims for July held steady at 9.7 percent, just slightly above the 9.6 percent reported in June.
The county’s July rate represents 1,315 individuals, but that number is certain to rise on the heels of Thursday’s announcement that Franklin Pharmacy would be suspending its compounding operation in Russellville.
Though company officials have not commented publicly, several employees of the pharmacy confirmed Friday that they were sent home Thursday and told that the compounding operation would be closed. Close to 200 people were employed there and it is uncertain how many will remain.
The announcement was made one week after federal and state agencies raided Franklin Pharmacy and two others, Russellville Pharmacy and Sheffield Pharmacy.
The county’s jobless claims total have been down considerably from this time a year ago and it is unclear what kind of impact Thursday’s announcement will make.
Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees announced Friday that Alabama’s preliminary July unemployment rate is 8.3 percent, up from June’s rate of 7.8 percent, but below last year’s rate of 9.2 percent.
“We see more partial claims in July and December than in any other month,” said Surtees.
“Last month was no exception.”
Partial unemployment claims, which are claims that are filed by workers who have been laid off, but for a specified time of less than three weeks, increased in July to 9,259, up significantly from the 2,570 and 3,181 recorded in May and June, respectively.