ADOL: labor force participation rate rises to 57.1%, unemployment at 2.4%

A report from the Alabama Department of Labor says that the state's labor participation rate has risen to 57.1% during the month of November. 

The report said that during the month prime age workers (those 25-54 years old) increased by three-tenths of a percentage point to 78.4%.

“Our labor force participation rate increased this month slightly, but over the year, we saw a bit more growth, with the rate increasing by nearly half of a percentage point," said ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. "The prime-age worker labor force participation rate also showed modest improvement, increasing by three-tenths of a percentage point over the month."

"This means that three out of every four prime-age Alabamians are holding down a job, and that number is steadily increasing, month over month. Additionally, we saw significant growth in the number of jobs our economy is supporting, reaching a new record high and adding nearly 38,000 new jobs over the year.”

Despite the recorded growth the unemployment rate has experienced a slight uptick, going from 2.3% last month to 2.4%, though below the 2022 rate of 2.6%.

The current rate represents 55,475 unemployed persons compared to 52,182 in October. 

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People counted as employed increased by 40,100 in 2023 to what was called a "record high" of 2,263,270. The civilian labor force reportedly increased to what was also called a "new record high" of 2,318,745, with 35,406 more people joining.

Wage and salary employment has increased over the year by 37,500, reaching a record high of 2,184,900. Gains were recorded in the private education and health services sector with more than 14,000, the government sector with more than 6,500, and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector with more than 4,700.

Wage and salary employment reportedly increased in November by 17,400 and gains were seen in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector with more than 6,200, the private education and health services sector with more than 5,200, and the manufacturing sector with more than 3,200.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox County at 8.0%, Dallas County at 5.4%, and Perry County at 5.0%.

Cities with the highest unemployment rates were Selma at 6.7%, Prichard at 4.7%, and Bessemer at 3.9%.

“This job growth continues improving, and we know that Alabama’s employers are continuing to add jobs each and every month,” said Washington. “We also saw modest over the year wage growth, and two large employment sectors saw their highest ever wages in November.”