Alabama Jobs Count Hits a New Record High

News Release

For Immediate Release: July 17, 2026

Alabama Jobs Count Hits a New Record High

MONTGOMERY - Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed announced today that wage and salary employment increased by 21,100 over the year to 2,224,200, a new record high, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (+7,500), the construction sector (+5,600), and the government sector (+5,300), among others.

"We are adding jobs every month, and breaking records," said Reed. "This reflects continued employer confidence in Alabama's economy and we are committed to building on that momentum. Alabama is a great place to do business and we're proud to work alongside our business community in delivering quality jobs for our workforce."

Alabama's labor force participation rate for June is 57.1%. The percentage of prime-age workers increased to 79.6%, over the year. Prime-age workers are those aged 25-54 years.

61.7% of those who are not being counted in the workforce participation rate are 55 years of age and over.

Alabama's preliminary, seasonally adjusted June unemployment rate is 3.2%, up from May 2026's rate of 3.0%. June's rate is above June 2025's rate of 2.9%. The rate represents 76,641 unemployed persons, compared to 72,046 in May and 67,728 in June 2025.

The number of people counted as employed decreased by 12,759 over the year to 2,294,118. The civilian labor force also decreased to 2,370,759, with 3,846 fewer people joining over the year.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby and Chambers Counties at 3.2%, Morgan, Limestone, Elmore, and Blount Counties at 3.3%, and St. Clair, Marshall, Madison, and Lawrence Counties at 3.4%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Perry County at 7.7%, Greene and Monroe Counties at 6.9%, and Wilcox County at 6.4%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Pelham at 2.9%, Vestavia Hills and Trussville at 3.0%, and Madison, Hoover, and Alabaster at 3.1%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard at 7.0%, Selma at 6.0%, and Anniston at 5.3%.

"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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