Franklin’s jobless rate drops to 2%

M O N T G O M E R Y — Franklin County’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.6% in August, according to preliminary figures released last week by the Alabama Department of Labor.

The August rate is down from 2.8% in July and 3.5% in August 2024, according to the figures, which are compiled by the state labor department in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The unemployment rate represents 363 unemployed people in the county in August. That is down from 387 in July and 483 in August 2024.

There were 67,900 employed members of the Shoals Civilian Labor Force in August, according to the figures. That is down from 68,283 in July but up from 66,752 in August 2024.

There were 13,873 members of the Franklin County Civilian Labor Force in August, according to the figures. That is down slightly from 13,953 in July and 13,990 in August 2024.

Nearby, the August unemployment rate was 3% in Lauderdale County and 3.1% in Colbert County. The bureau also provides rates for selected cities, including Florence, where it was 3.1% in August.

Statewide, August’s unemployment rate was 2.9% when seasonally adjusted and the same when not seasonally adjusted. Nationally, the rate was 4.3% when seasonally adjusted and same when not seasonally adjusted.