ADOL: Job growth, wages grew in July

A report from the Alabama Department of Labor said that jobs and wages grew in July, though the unemployment rate ticked up.  

Secretary Greg Reed announced that wage and salary employment increased by 20,400 over the year to 2,209,500, with gains being seen in the leisure and hospitality sector at more than 10,600, the private education and health services sector at more than 6,400, and the government sector with more than 5,400.

The construction sector saw $1,432.21 and the manufacturing sector saw $1,389.75 during that time, said the report.

The private education and health services sectors, including medical workers, rose to 269,000, with 6,400 more jobs added, said to be a new record.

The state preliminary, seasonally adjusted July unemployment rate was 3.4%, which is up from the previous month at 3.2%.

The number of people counted as employed reportedly decreased over the year from 22,283 to 2,286,389. The civilian labor force decreased to 2,365,734.

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The labor force participation rate for July was 56.9 %. The percentage of prime-age workers (25-54 years old) was 79.5%.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Perry County at 7.1%, Greene County at 6.7%, and Monroe County at 6.5%.

Selma's unemployment rate was 5.8%.

“It’s great to continue to see positive growth in our jobs numbers, particularly when one of our most in-demand and needed professions, nursing, is showing such a strong increase,” said Reed. “Wage growth in two of our highest paid sectors, construction and manufacturing, is also a positive economic development."

"We will continue our work to ensure that Alabamians have access to well-paying, high-growth positions so that they can achieve greater financial stability for themselves and their families.”