MONTGOMERY, AL (WAFF) -
Alabama's preliminary April unemployment rate is 7.2 percent, down from March's revised rate of 7.4 percent.
April's rate represents 154,307 unemployed Alabamians.
"Alabama hasn't seen an unemployment rate this low since the start of the recession," said Governor Robert Bentley. "I think we are getting to a point where we are seeing many areas of the economy improving."
Wage and salary employment increased by 8,500 jobs over the month, with gains occurring in the leisure and hospitality industry, the professional and business services industry, and the trade, transportation, and utilities industry, among others.
The last time Alabama's unemployment rate was at or below 7.2 percent was in November of 2008.
Preliminary figures show that the number of employees in the Motor Vehicles Parts Manufacturing industry has increased by 13.1 percent over the past year. The number of employees in the Motor Vehicle Manufacturing industry has increased by 3.96 percent. Employment in the Leisure and Hospitality industry has increased by 3.03 percent over the last month, and 3.15 percent over the last year.
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 4.6 percent, Coffee County at 5.3 percent, Lee County at 5.6 percent, and Limestone County at 5.6 percent. The counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 15.1 percent, Lowndes County at 13.9 percent, and Dallas County at 12.2 percent.
Madison County's unemployment rate is just behind Limestone County at 5.7 percent.
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