ADOL report finds labor force participation rate still at 57.5% in July

A report by the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) for the month of July found that the labor participation rate is still at 57.5%. 

The percentage of prime age (25-54 years old) workers increased by by one-tenth of a percentage point to 79.3% during the month.

“While we all are working to increase our labor force participation rate, the continued growth, especially year over year, in the number of prime age Alabamians who are holding down a job, remains a positive trend in the state’s economy.” said ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “All other economic indicators showed improvement this month as well.”

The preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.8% down from the June 2024 rate of 2.9% and represents 66,591 unemployed persons.

The number of people counted as employed increased by 20,156 over the year to 2,273,759. The civilian labor force increased to 2,340,350, with 31,164 more people joining during the year.

Wage and salary employment increased over the year by 52,500 to 2,211,700. Gains were seen in the private education and health services sector at more than 13,500, leisure and hospitality sector at more than 9,400, and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector at more than 9,000, among others.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox County at 8.8%, Perry County at 7.0%, and Dallas County at 6.2%.

Selma remains among the highest in unemployment at 7.4%.