Franklin unemployment increases

According to Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, the number of people counted as working in Alabama has reached 2,098,377 – a record high. Additionally, Alabama’s economy is supporting more jobs than ever before, with employers reporting 2,050,400 positions.

“More Alabamians are employed than we have ever seen,” said Washington. “More people are entering the workforce, optimistic they will find work, and they are finding it. Employers are telling us they are supporting more positions than ever before. Jobs are available in Alabama, and even more are being announced every day.”

In Franklin County, the percentage of unemployed workers rose from May to June. June’s unemployment rate is 5 percent, higher than May’s 3.7 percent and higher than June 2017’s 4.6 percent.

That percentage, however, can be explained in part by a jump in the civilian labor force: from 13,864 people in May to 14,089 in June.

At the state level, June employment data measures 2,098,377 employed persons, compared to 2,091,505 in May and 2,073,795 in June 2017, according to Washington. A total 89,353 people were counted as unemployed, up from 85,589 in May but below 93,997 in June 2017.

Statewide, June’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 4.1 percent, up from May’s rate of 3.9 percent and below June 2017’s rate of 4.3 percent.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 3.7 percent; Elmore, Cullman and Baldwin counties at 4.2 percent; and Marshall County at 4.3 percent.

In northwest Alabama, Franklin maintained a lower unemployment percentage than all adjacent counties.