Jobless claims drop again
Franklin County’s unemployment rate dropped again in August, continuing a trend that has lowered the jobless rate to 9.7 percent.
That is a slight decrease from July’s announced rate of 9.9 percent, but it is more than three percentage points below the 12.9 percent high of August 2009.
The county remains just above the state average of 9.2 percent.
Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees announced Friday that Alabama’s August unemployment rate dropped from 9.7 percent recorded in July. The comparable rate for August 2009 was 10.6 percent.
“Today’s news is certainly good news,” Surtees said. “This marks the first time in nearly
two years that Alabama’s unemployment rate has been below the national average. That
is most definitely a sign that Alabama’s economy is slowly but surely recovering from
this economic recession.”
The national unemployment rate for August is 9.6 percent. The last time Alabama’s
unemployment rate was below the national average was November of 2008, when the state’s rate was 6.7 percent, compared to the national rate of 6.9 percent.
Gov. Bob Riley released a statement Friday concerning the latest unemployment numbers.
“A trend is developing that’s clear, positive and very good. From April to August, Alabama’s unemployment rate has fallen from 11 percent to 9.2 percent — almost two full percentage points,” Riley said.
“To see such a significant drop in just four months is incredible. During the past few weeks, we’ve had several major announcements of new industries coming to our state and we’re working to win others before the end of the year. For so long, Alabama had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.
Then this devastating recession hit. Then the oil disaster in the Gulf.
“Considering all the people on our coast who are hurting and still unemployed, it’s remarkable that our statewide jobless rate has fallen.”
August’s rate represents 192,825 unemployed persons, down from July’s 202,308. In
August 2009, there were 223,585 unemployed persons in the state.
“We have been seeing drops in our unemployment rate over the past four months,”
Surtees said. “While we are certainly upbeat about the positive signs we are seeing,
we cannot forget that there are still over 190,000 Alabamians without work. The
Department of Industrial Relations remains dedicated to helping those individuals find
jobs and receive the unemployment compensation benefits they are entitled to.”
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates were: Shelby at 6.8 percent, Madison at 7.1 percent and Coffee at 7.3 percent.
The counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wilcox at 21.3 percent, Greene at 18.8 percent and Dallas at 17.8% percent.
Northwest Alabama counties reported rates were: Lauderdale at 8.6 percent, Colbert at 9.2 percent, Lawrence at 9.9 percent, Marion at 13.1 percent and Winston at 14.3 percent.
