County's jobless rate drops for third

By Staff
consecutive month
Jason Cannon
Franklin County's unemployment rate dropped for the third consecutive month, settling at 4.4 percent in March.
The statewide rate rose nearly half a percent to 4.1 percent, representing 91,145 out of work residents.
"Despite the increase, Alabama continues to post jobless rates below national rates," Tom Surtees, Director of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, said. "It has been nearly seven years since the national unemployment rate was lower than our state unemployment rate."
The comparable U.S. jobless rate is 5.1 percent, and increase from 4.8 percent from Februray.
Franklin County's rate represents 609 out of work residents. From February to March, nine residents found work.