The jobless rate fell again in Alabama and in Covington County in July.

Preliminary, seasonally adjusted July unemployment rates announced by Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday show the state’s rate is 4.5 percent, down from June’s rate of 4.6 percent, and well below July 2016’s rate of 5.8 percent. July’s rate represents 96,251 unemployed persons, compared to 100,187 in June and 126,182 in July 2016.

“This month, there are fewer people unemployed than there have been in nearly 10 years. This is most welcome news. But even as our unemployment rate continues to decline, we must maintain our work to bring quality, high-paying, high-demand jobs to the state of Alabama. This is a goal I’m committed to, and I intend to continue doing just that,” Gov. Ivey said.

Locally, the rate fell to 5.8 percent, down from 6.2 percent in June, and 7.1 percent in July of last year. The current jobless rate represents 909 people without jobs. There were 14,775 people employed in the county in the same period.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 3.5 percent, Cullman and Baldwin Counties at 4.0 percent, and Marshall and Elmore Counties at 4.1 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 13.5 pecent, Perry County at 10.8 percent, and Clarke County at 10.2 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are Vestavia Hills at 2.9 percent, Homewood and Hoover at 3.3 percent, and Alabaster at 3.4 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 10.9 percent, Prichard at 9.7 percent, and Anniston at 6.5 percent.