Alabama’s unemployment rate lower than national average—here’s why

How does Alabama’s unemployment rate compare to the U.S. as a whole? Pretty good.

Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the U.S. April unemployment rate remained at 3.9%, unchanged from the previous month. 

Alabama’s statewide April unemployment rate is 3.0% according to the Alabama Department of Labor (ADL). That is a little under one percent less than the national average.

Jobless numbers from Florence to Dothan

How is your community doing?

Here are the latest numbers from the following Alabama metro areas (March 2024):

• Florence-Muscle Shoals — 3.1%
• Decatur — 2.5%
• Huntsville — 2.6%
• Gadsden — 3.5%
• Birmingham-Hoover — 2.7%
• Tuscaloosa — 2.9%
• Anniston/Oxford/Jacksonville — 3.3%
• Montgomery — 3.0%
• Auburn-Opelika — 2.9%
• Dothan — 3.1%
• Daphne-Fairhope-Foley — 2.8%
• Mobile —3.9%

Two Alabama cities with rates significantly higher than the national level are:  

• Selma — 6.5%  
• Pritchard— 5.7%

Alabama’s jobless rate is up in 2024

Even though Alabama’s jobless remains historically low, it has been inching upward since July 2023 when the record for the lowest unemployment level was set at 2.1%.

You can dive into the federal and state numbers utilizing the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Alabama Department of Labor’s websites.

Tell us what you think about the current state of employment and the state of the economy by commenting on our Instagram and tagging us @thebamabuzz!