Alabama (AL) State Unemployment Law

Governor Bob Riley announced on Friday that Alabama’s unemployment rate remains at a record low, unchanged from the previous month. The rate for November 2006 — the most recent data available – remained at 3.2 percent, unchanged from October. The unemployment rate set in October was a new record low in Alabama history.

“This record low unemployment rate continues to show that Alabama’s economy is vibrant and strong,” Governor Riley said. “Alabama is witnessing an economic surge and we will continue to help existing companies expand and recruit high paying jobs from the top companies in the nation and around the world.”

The number of employed Alabamians grew from 2,141,200 in October to 2,144,296 in November. The number of unemployed Alabamians changed from 71,204 in October to 72,025 in November.

The rosy Alabama unemployment picture was a factor in the re-election of Republican Governor Bob Riley in the mid-term elections.  A number of states including Colorado, Arkansas, Ohio, New York and Massachusetts voted Democratic Governors into office in 2006. Maryland Republican incumbent Robert Ehrlich was defeated by a Democrat.

The low Alabama unemployment rates were not new – they’re the continuation of a trend that started earlier in the year. In March, only seven states reported lower rates of joblessness than Alabama for March, while two others — South Dakota and Vermont — matched Alabama’s 3.3 percent unemployment rate.  Gov. Bob Riley called the 3.3-percent figure a “historic milestone.” Indeed, the 3.3 percent rate is the lowest recorded in the Yellowhammer state since 1976.

“The economy in Alabama is remarkable and it just keeps getting better and better. Our momentum continues to grow,” Riley said in a press release. “These numbers show Alabama is on the right track. Three years ago, Alabama was losing more jobs than it created. Now we’re headed in the right direction.”

A year ago—November 2005—the state’s unemployment rate stood at 3.6 percent. Alabama’s unemployment rate continues to remain lower than the national unemployment rate of 4.5%. Shelby County recorded the lowest county unemployment rate in the state at 1.9 percent. The highest county rate was 8.6 percent in Bullock County.

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