County’s jobless claims hold steady in August

Franklin County’s jobless claims held steady in August according to a release issued Friday by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations.
The county’s jobless claims were at 9.5 percent, which is the same as it was at the same time last year and down from July’s reported total of 9.7 percent. The claims represent 1,274 unemployed workers.
The county’s claims are above the state average of 8.5 percent.
“While the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased over the previous month, we saw fewer unemployment compensation claims filed during the same time period and continued to see record numbers of job openings posted on Joblink,” Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtee said.
“Also, 63 of 67 counties saw their unemployment rates drop or remain the same this month. These are some positive signs in spite of the increase in the seasonally adjusted rate.”
August 2012 saw 19,327 new unemployment compensation claims statewide, compared to 25,031 in 2011.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 5.8 percent, Coffee County at 7.1 percent, Blount County at 7.2 percent, Limestone County at 7.2 percent and Madison County at 7.2 percent.
Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 19.2 percent, Bullock County at 17.1 percent and Dallas County at 16.6 percent.