Franklin County’s unemployment rate was 3.1% in February

MONTGOMERY — Franklin County’s unemployment rate was 3.1% in February, which was just a slight increase over the previous month.

Preliminary figures from the Alabama Department of Labor in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics have the rate at 3.1%, which is up from 2.9% in January and the same as February 2024’s 3.1%.

The rate represents 433 unemployed members of the county’s civilian labor force in February. That is up from 398 in January and 419 in February 2024.

There were 13,435 employed residents in the county in February, up from 13,214 in January and 13,272 in February 2024.

The labor force grew to 13,868 in February, up from 13,612 in January and 13,691 in February 2024.

The unemployment rate was 3.5% in Lauderdale County and 3.8% in Colbert County. The bureau also provides rates for selected cities, including Florence, where it was 3.5% in February.

Statewide, the rate was 3.3% when seasonally adjusted and 3.4% when not seasonally adjusted. Nationally, the rate was 4.1% when seasonally adjusted and 4.5% when not adjusted.

Seasonal adjustment removes “influences of predictable seasonal patterns,” according to the labor bureau. Weather, harvests, holidays and school schedules are among influences it mentions.

Metropolitan areas and cities are not seasonally adjusted.