Jobless rate jumps to 2.9% in June
MONTGOMERY Franklin County’s unemployment rate increased to 2.9% in June, according to preliminary figures from the Alabama Department of Labor.
The rate was higher than the 2.5% mark in May but down from the 3.1% figure in June 2024, according to the figures, which the department compiles in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The June rate represents 405 unemployed members of the Franklin County Civilian Labor Force. That is up from 358 in May but down from 429 in June 2024.
There were 13,664 employed members of the labor force in June. That is down from 13,725 in May but up from 13,467 in June 2024.
Franklin County had 14,069 residents in the labor force in June, which is down from 14,083 in May but up from 13,896 in June 2024.
Nearby, the Shoals rate was 3.4% in June, which is up from 3% in May but down from 3.5% in June 2024.
The unemployment rate represents 2,430 unemployed people in the Shoals Metropolitan Area’s Civilian Labor Force in June, which is up from 2,157 in May and 2,414 in June 2024.
There were 68,381 employed members of the Shoals Civilian Labor Force in June, according to the figures. That is down from 69,201 in May but up from 66,411 in June 2024.
There were 70,811 members of the Shoals Civilian Labor Force in June, according to the figures. That is down from 71,358 in May but up from 68,825 in June 2024.
Broken down by county, the June unemployment rate was 3.4% in Lauderdale County and 3.5% in Colbert County.
The bureau also provides rates for selected cities, including Florence, where it was 3.5% in June.
Statewide, June’s unemployment rate was 3.2% when seasonally adjusted and 3% when not seasonally adjusted. Nationally, the rate was 4.1% when seasonally adjusted and 4.4% when not 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.
Counties and metropolitan areas are not seasonally adjusted.