Alabama’s Unemployment Rate Increases Slightly in April

News Release

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2026

Alabama's Unemployment Rate Increases Slightly in April

State Sets New Record High Jobs Count

MONTGOMERY - Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed announced today that Alabama's April preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 2.8%, up slightly from March's rate of 2.7%, and below April 2025's rate of 2.9%.'s rate. The rate represents 67,115 unemployed persons, compared to 65,467 in March and 69,951 in April 2025.

The number of people counted as employed increased by 3,579 over the year to 2,311,287. The civilian labor force also increased to 2,378,402, with 1,103 more people joining over the year. Prime-aged workers (25-54 years old) are working at a rate of 79.3%.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 13,200 to 2,211,300, a new record high, with gains in the government sector (+4,700), the private education and health services sector (+4,100), and the leisure and hospitality sector (+3,400), among others.

Construction jobs in Alabama grew to 111,800, marking the industry's highest employment level since January 2008. Additionally, average weekly wages in the manufacturing sector increased to a new record high of $1,407.08, also representing the first times wages in this sector surpassed the $1,400 mark.

"Construction and manufacturing are among the most vital sectors of our economy," continued Reed. "When we continue to see growth and even more importantly, wage growth, in these sectors, that signifies sustained economic growth. Additionally, we are continuing to see Alabama employers adding jobs and hiring workers at record levels."

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby and Elmore Counties at 2.0%, Morgan, Marshall, Limestone, Lee, Chilton, Chambers, and Blount Counties at 2.1%, and Madison, Lawrence, Franklin, DeKalb, Cleburne, Baldwin, and Autauga Counties at 2.2%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Greene County at 5.5%, Monroe and Perry Counties at 5.3%, and Wilcox County at 4.9%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Trussville and Pelham at 1.7%, Vestavia Hills at 1.8%, and Alabaster at 1.9%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard at 5.4%, Selma at 4.7%, and Bessemer at 3.8%.

"Seasonal adjustment" refers to BLS's practice of anticipating certain trends in the labor force, such as hiring during the holidays or the surge in the labor force when students graduate in the spring, and removing their effects to the civilian labor force.

The Current Population (CPS), or the household survey, is conducted by the Census Bureau and identifies members of the work force and measures how many people are working or looking for work.

The establishment survey, which is conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, surveys employers to measure how many jobs are in the economy. This is also referred to as wage and salary employment.

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