Franklin’s jobless rate falls to 2.6%

MONTGOMERY — The unemployment rate for Franklin County dropped below 3% in March, according to the latest statistics from the Alabama Department of Workforce.

March’s unemployment rate for the county was 2.6%.

The drop follows a slight increase in the county’s jobless rate in February, when the rate was 3.1% when compared to the 2.8% rate in January.

Franklin’s 2.6% jobless rate was lower than Lauderdale County’s rate (2.9%, down from 3.5% in February) and Colbert County’s rate, which was 3.1% in March.

The labor force for the Shoals area climbed back above the 70,000 mark in March.

The unemployment rate represents 2,054 members of the Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian workforce who were unemployed in March. That number is down from 2,441 in February and 2,165 in March 2025.

There were 68,183 employed members of the workforce in March, which was up from 67,309 in February, although it was down from 68,318 in March 2025.

The civilian labor force in the Shoals grew in March to 70,237, which was up from 69,750 but down from 70,483 in March 2025.

The Shoals MSA includes Colbert and Lauderdale counties.

Nearby, it was 2.6% in Franklin County.

Rates also are provided for selected cities, including Florence, which had a 2.9% rate in March.

The Shoals rate was tied with Montgomery and Dothan for the fourth highest of Alabama’s 12 MSAs with Mobile’s highest at 3.6%.

The Decatur and Huntsville MSAs tied for lowest at 2.4%.

Statewide, the rate was 2.8% in March when not seasonally adjusted and 2.7% when seasonally adjusted.

Nationally, it was 4.3% when not seasonally adjusted as well as seasonally 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.