Labor force participation rate in Alabama increases to 57.5%

The labor force participation rate in Alabama has had a slight uptick in April, rising from 57.4% to 57.5%, said an announcement from Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington on Friday. 

“This continued growth in our prime age labor force participation rate is truly encouraging,” said Washington. “The over the year growth is showing that our prime age workers are indeed rejoining the labor force and making an impact. Additionally, our total labor force has increased to its highest level, with more than 40,000 people deciding that they want a job since the same time last year.”

The preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.1%, representing 72,057 unemployed persons. 

The number of people counted as employed increased by 20,117 over the year to  2,263,393. The civilian labor force also increased to 2,331,680, with 2,335,450 more people joining over the year.

Wage and salary employment increased over the year by 49,700 to 2,203,800, with gains seen in the government sector with more than 9,300, the private education and health services sector at more than 10,500, and the manufacturing sector at more than 7,200.

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Wage and salary employment increased in March by 5,300, with gains in the government sector of more than 9,400, private education and health services sector with more than 13,700, and the manufacturing sector with more than 7,500. 

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox County at 7.7%, Perry County at 5.3%, and Dallas County at 5.0%.

Selma remains among the highest in unemployment at 5.7%, a percentage that has decreased in past months. 

“Alabama’s employers are creating jobs,” continued Washington. “Our economy is supporting more jobs than ever before. We are all working together to ensure that we have the workforce to fill them.”