FC unemployment rate continues incremental slide

According to information released by the Alabama Department of Labor Friday, the state labor force is setting records, reporting a historically low unemployment rate, high job count and high employment statewide.

In May, preliminary estimates accounted for 2,150,481 people working in Alabama, up by nearly 41,000 from the same time a year ago and up about 11,000 from April.

In Franklin County, the ADOL reports 14,143 people employed in May – an increase of 100 people compared to April’s count of 14,042 and a jump of more than 400 compared to the same timeframe in 2018.

On the other side of the coin, the state reports 389 people unemployed in Franklin County in May, as compared to 447 unemployed in April, continuing a downward trend. That equates to a 2.7 percent unemployment rate in May, as compared to 3.1 percent in April and 3.5 percent in May 2018.

“Since day one, my administration has sought the best ways to make our state business-friendly for small businesses and attractive to world-class industry. It is certainly paying off because in May, each of Alabama’s 67 counties saw their unemployment rates drop,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “Alabama is breaking record after record. I am proud of the footing we are making; however, we will not tire our efforts. It remains our goal to ensure every Alabamian who wants a job can get a job.”

Franklin County boasts the lowest unemployment of all adjacent counties, with Colbert coming in at 3.6 percent, Lauderdale at 3.2 percent, Lawrence at 3 percent, Winston at 3.3 percent and Marion at 3.4 percent.