County jobless rate at 12.6 percent

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Franklin County's unemployment rate for the month of December was three percentage points higher than it was for the same time period just one year earlier.
According to figures released by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations on Friday, the county's jobless rate grew to 12.6 percent. That number was up from 12.2 percent in November and up from 9.5 percent in December 2008.
Statistics show that 1,574 county residents were unemployed last month. That is 50 more than in November.
The county's jobless rate remains higher than the state average of 11 percent.
Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees announced Friday that Alabama's unemployment rate for December rose to 11 percent, which was an increase from November's rate of 10.5 percent.
December's rate represents 225,596 unemployed people throughout the state. Wage and salary employment declined by 9,300 with losses occurring in the following sectors: professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, construction, educational and health services, government, financial activities, and manufacturing.
Gains occurred in the following sectors: trade, transportation and utilities, other services, natural resources and mining, and information.
"Although we became a little hopeful due to last month's unemployment decrease, I think
we all realize the reality of the economic situation in this country," Surtees said.
"We are continuing to see Alabamians suffer from the recession and remain committed to serving them. During 2009, we distributed benefits exceeding $1.2 billion and will continue to assist the unemployed with all of the state and federal resources at our disposal."
Neighboring counties reported the following rates: Colbert at 11.2 percent, Lauderdale at 10.8 percent, Lawrence at 13.3 percent, Winston at 17.9 percent and Marion at 15.3 percent.
The counties in the state with the lowest unemployment rates were Shelby at 7.6, Madison at
7.7 and Coffee at 8.1 percent.
Counties with the highest rates were Wilcox at 24.5, Monroe at 20.2 and Dallas at 20.1 percent.
For 2009, Alabama's preliminary average unemployment rate was 9.8 percent. Wage and
salary employment declined by 65,100.
Annual losses occurred in manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation, and utilities, professional and business services, financial activities, leisure and hospitality, information, other services, and natural resources and mining.
The only annual gains were recorded in education and health services and government.