Labor force participation rate unchanged at 57.4% in March, says ADOL report

A report from the Alabama Department of Labor said that the labor participation rate is unchanged from January at 57.4% for the month of March. 

The number of prime age workers (those of ages 25-54) increased to 78.9% from 78.6% in January. 

“The number of prime age people that are holding down jobs continues to increase,” said ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “That number is very close to a full 80 percent of prime age individuals working. We remain hopeful that this trend will continue throughout the year, especially as the state works to raise its overall labor force participation rate.”

The preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.0%, representing 70,894 unemployed persons, slightly up from February. 

The number of people counted as employed increased by 21,335 over the year to 2,260,786. The civilian labor force also increased to 2,331,680, with 39,897 more people joining over the year.

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Wage and salary employment increased over the year by 38,900 to 2,187,200, 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.

Wage and salary employment increased in March by 5,300, with gains in the government sector of more than 2,400, the leisure and hospitality sector with more than 2,400, and the manufacturing sector with more than 1,300.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox County at 8.8%, Perry County at 6.0%, and Greene County at 5.9%.

Selma remains among the highest in unemployment at 6.5%, though this is down from 8.2% reported in January. 

“Nearly 40,000 more people have entered the workforce since last year,” said Washington. “More people are employed than last year, and we’ve increased the number of jobs our economy is supporting.  Our metrics are looking great right now.”