Covington County’s unemployment rate was down to 7.1 percent for April 2012, down from 7.7 percent in March.

From March to April, there were 119 less people unemployed in the county, which equates to 1,079 unemployed people.

Earlier this month, SaeHaeSung, Andalusia’s Hyundai supplier announced it would create 50 new jobs in response to Hyundai’s announcement to add a third shift, which will add to the increasing decline of unemployed people in the area.

Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday announced that Alabama’s preliminary April unemployment rate is 7.2 percent, down from March’s revised rate of 7.4 percent.  April’s rate represents 154,307 unemployed persons, down from 157,494 last month and 203,520 in April 2011.

“Alabama hasn’t seen an unemployment rate this low since the start of the recession,” Governor Bentley said.  “I think we are getting to a point where we are seeing many areas of the economy improving.  For example, the automotive base in Alabama is increasingly strong.  Just yesterday, we announced Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama will be expanding its production facility in Huntsville.  We have also seen many other exciting developments across the state that are leading to new jobs for Alabamians.  We will continue our job creation efforts with the goal that anyone who wants a job is able to find one.”

The last time Alabama’s unemployment rate was at or below 7.2 percent was in November 2008.

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 4.6 percent, Coffee County at 5.3 percent, Lee County at 5.6 percent, and Limestone County at 5.6 percent..  The counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 15.1 percent, Lowndes County at 13.9 percent, and Dallas County at 12.2 percent.