Alabama's unemployment rate is at 8.7 percent for the month of November. This is a drop from 9.3 percent in October.
Governor Robert Bentley said the continuing decline is a good sign for the state's economy. Some workers believe they know what's causing the drop in the unemployment rate.
Athens resident Carlos Franklin has been a brick mason for 13 years. He also works as a basketball referee to help pay the bills.
Franklin said he didn't need figures to tell him what he already noticed; more jobs coming his way.
"I've been getting calls from different contractors I don't know," Franklin said.
Franklin claims the drop in the state's unemployment rate is because of Alabama's immigration law.
"We've been getting calls from different people that are scared of using illegals. And that's been putting us back to work," Franklin said.
Governor Bentley, however, could not confirm this is the case.
"I don't think there's any evidence to say yes, I don't think there's any evidence to say no. I just don't think we can support it with data. We just need to be excited about the drop in unemployment rates." Bentley said.
State Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said the unemployment rate dropped .6 percent last month. He said this figure is the biggest monthly drop the state has ever seen in the unemployment rate, part of which is due to businesses hiring holiday help.
Copyright 2011 WAFF. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WAFF, a Raycom Media Station. 