Jobless rate increases in county

Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday that Alabama’s May unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, down from May’s rate of 4.9 percent and 1.2 percent lower than June 2016’s rate of 5.8 percent.

Franklin County’s unemployment rate, however, increased slightly, coming in at 5 percent unemployment for June as compared to 5 percent in May.

“Alabama’s unemployment continues to drop, and our economy continues to add jobs.  As of now, we are only two-tenths of a percentage point away from catching up to the national unemployment rate,” said Ivey. “Even though our numbers are improving, I continue to pledge to work even harder to make sure that any Alabamian who wants a job can find one.”

In Franklin County, the 5 percent unemployment rate represents 698 unemployed people, as compared to 572 unemployed people in May. According to the ADOL, the figures indicate 13,156 people employed, as compared to 13,209 employed in May, and an increase in the labor force from 13,781 in May to 13,854 in June.

In Northwest Alabama, unemployment percentages ranged from 4.6 percent, in Limestone, to as high as 5.8 percent, in Walker.