Jobless rate rises again
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Franklin County's unemployment rate slightly increased once again in October, moving from 12.3 percent to 12.5 percent.
The upward shift mirrors the state pattern. In October, the jobless rate in Alabama increased from 10.7 percent to 10.9 percent statewide.
Franklin County's percentage represents 1,578 people who are now out of a job.
In comparison to other counties in northwest Alabama, Colbert County's rate is reported to be 10.9 percent and Lauderdale County is at 10.8 percent.
Franklin County, whose unemployment rate in October 2008 was 7.6 percent, is faring better than others in the area, however.
Lawrence County's jobless rate is 13.8 percent, Marion is at 17 percent and Winston reports an 18.8 percent unemployment rate.
The statewide unemployment figures represent 226,790 unemployed persons and an increase of 3,800 in wage and salary employment.
The sectors experiencing gains were: government, professional and business services, trade, transportation, and utilities, and educational and health services.
Sectors experiencing losses this month were: financial activities, manufacturing, other services, and natural resources and mining.
"While we did experience a slight increase in the unemployment rate, I am proud to
announce that Alabama is already paying federal extension benefits to those claimants
who qualify," Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said.
"This extension was only signed into law on November 6, so that represents a less than two week turn-around time on distributing these much needed dollars."
The Department of Industrial Relations has determined that, to date, approximately
12,000 Alabamians are eligible for this most recent federal extension of benefits.
This week, DIR asked claimants whose benefits exhausted on or before November 14 to begin certifying for the extended benefits.
Claimants can certify online at www.dir.alabama.gov, or by calling 1-800-752-7389. Payments for some of these claims began earlier this week.
"Once again, I'd like to encourage unemployed Alabamians to be patient with us as we
distribute these funds," Surtees said.
"We are doing everything possible to get these funds circulating in Alabama's economy as quickly as we can. Filing online is the best way to speed up the process."
Counties with the lowest unemployment rate were: Shelby at 7.4 percent, Madison at 7.5 percent and Coffee at 8.3 percent.
Counties with the highest unemployment rate were: Wilcox at 25.1 percent, Dallas at 21.9 percent and Conecuh at 20.5 percent.
