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Following the statewide trend, Covington County saw its unemployment rate drop for the month of April.

According to the Alabama Department of Labor, Covington County’s rate for April was 1.9 percent, down from the March rate of 2.2 and from April 2022’s rate of 2 percent.

Adjacent counties also saw decreases in unemployment rates. Butler County came in at 2.2 percent, down from 2.3 in March; Coffee County was at 1.7, down from 1.9; Conecuh County was at 2.2, down from 2.6; Crenshaw County was at 1.7, down from 1.9; Escambia County was at 2.2, down from 2.5; and Geneva County’s rate was reported at 1.8 in April, down from March’s rate of 1.9 percent.

Statewide, unemployment for April was reported at 2.2 percent, which was down from March’s rate of 2.3 percent. It was also a decrease from April 2022 when the rate was at 2.5 percent.

April’s rate represents 51,462 unemployed persons, a new record low for the state, compared to 53,017 in March and 57,712 in April 2022.

All rates are preliminary and are seasonally adjusted.

“Yet again, we see the resiliency of our state’s workforce. When Alabama works, Alabama families thrive and records are broken time and time again,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “We have a quick growing economy and we are leading the game when it comes to economic success. Boasting the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, Alabama is well on its way to having the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.”

The number of people in the workforce reached a new record, increasing 3,367 over the month to 2,293,022. Additionally, the number of people counted as employed reached a new record high, increasing 4,922 over the month to 2,241,560.

“Continuing this positive trend, Alabama’s employers added more than 40,000 jobs over the last year, reaching the third highest jobs count in history,” said Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington.  “Wages have yet again set a new record high, rising by more than $30 a week since last month alone.  More money in the pockets of Alabamians is always a good thing.”

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 40,800 to 2,143,700, with gains in the private education and health services sector (+8,000), the government sector (+6,300) and the professional and business services sector (+6,100), among others.

Over the month, wage and salary employment increased in April by 7,900.  Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+3,800), the financial activities sector (+1,700) and the private education and health services sector (+1,300), among others.

Total private average weekly wages reached a new record high in April, rising to $1,023.12, up $31.02 over the month and up $27.68 over the year.  Additionally, both the trade, transportation and utilities sector and the financial activities sector hit new record high weekly wages, rising to $835.56 and $1,305.68 respectively.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 1.3 percent, Morgan, Marshall, Madison and Cullman counties at 1.4 percent and St. Clair, Limestone, Lawrence, Elmore and Blount counties at 1.5 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 6 percent; Greene County at 4 percent; and Clarke County at 3.7 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Alabaster, Madison, Trussville and Vestavia Hills at 1.2 percent; Homewood, Hoover and Northport at 1.3 percent; and Athens at 1.4 percent.

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 4.5 percent, Prichard at 3.2 percent and Bessemer and Gadsden at 2.5 percent.