Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Alabama

Published 10:02 am Monday, August 8, 2022

Canva

Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Alabama

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of June of this year, national unemployment is at 3.5%, 0.1% lower than in May, marking a three-month stagnation—following a steady drop since that aforementioned COVID-affected peak. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 1.8% in Minnesota, to 4.9% in New Mexico and 5.5% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in Alabama using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in June 2022, which as of this writing is the most current Bureau data.

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Cleburne County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.0%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -0.3%
-Total Labor Force: 6,082 (183 unemployed)

Canva

#49. DeKalb County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.0%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.2%
-Total Labor Force: 31,393 (945 unemployed)

Library of Congress

#48. Lee County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.0%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.6%
-Total Labor Force: 79,285 (2,408 unemployed)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Randolph County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.0%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -0.4%
-Total Labor Force: 9,725 (296 unemployed)

Wmr36104 // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Geneva County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.5%
-Total Labor Force: 11,244 (344 unemployed)

You may also like: What to know about workers’ compensation in Alabama

Rivers Langley SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Russell County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.9%
-Total Labor Force: 24,081 (743 unemployed)

Canva

#44. Lawrence County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.7%
-Total Labor Force: 14,761 (457 unemployed)

Canva

#43. Bibb County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
-Total Labor Force: 8,867 (277 unemployed)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Coosa County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.5%
-Total Labor Force: 4,423 (139 unemployed)

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Coffee County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.2%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -0.5%
-Total Labor Force: 21,715 (689 unemployed)

You may also like: Lowest-earning counties in Alabama

Springfieldohio // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Jackson County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.2%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -0.3%
-Total Labor Force: 23,483 (746 unemployed)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Covington County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.2%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.5%
-Total Labor Force: 15,367 (490 unemployed)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Chambers County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.2%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
-Total Labor Force: 15,990 (514 unemployed)

M Floyd // Flickr

#37. Jefferson County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.2%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
-Total Labor Force: 329,048 (10,589 unemployed)

Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Houston County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.3%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
-Total Labor Force: 48,113 (1,566 unemployed)

Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Dale County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.3%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.6%
-Total Labor Force: 21,023 (687 unemployed)

Kreeder13 // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Pike County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.3%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.7%
-Total Labor Force: 16,400 (538 unemployed)

Myself – Nathon Morris // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Lamar County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: +1.1%
— 1 year change: -0.6%
-Total Labor Force: 5,702 (192 unemployed)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Crenshaw County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: +1.1%
— 1 year change: -0.6%
-Total Labor Force: 6,027 (203 unemployed)

Canva

#31. Fayette County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.4%
-Total Labor Force: 6,763 (229 unemployed)

Tracy Burroughs Brown // Shutterstock

#30. Tuscaloosa County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
-Total Labor Force: 103,423 (3,532 unemployed)

Canva

#29. Walker County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
-Total Labor Force: 26,052 (893 unemployed)

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#28. Lauderdale County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -0.7%
-Total Labor Force: 43,024 (1,475 unemployed)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Henry County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -0.5%
-Total Labor Force: 7,075 (244 unemployed)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Tallapoosa County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.5%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
-Total Labor Force: 18,084 (641 unemployed)

You may also like: Best high schools in Alabama

Canva

#25. Bullock County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.6%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -0.9%
-Total Labor Force: 4,586 (163 unemployed)

Canva

#24. Escambia County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.8%
— 1 month change: +1.1%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
-Total Labor Force: 14,210 (536 unemployed)

Prestinian // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Etowah County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.8%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
-Total Labor Force: 40,093 (1,543 unemployed)

Chris Pruitt // wikicommons

#22. Montgomery County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.9%
— 1 month change: +0.8%
— 1 year change: -2.1%
-Total Labor Force: 108,941 (4,209 unemployed)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Calhoun County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.9%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
-Total Labor Force: 46,804 (1,813 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties with the most super commuters in Alabama

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Talladega County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.9%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
-Total Labor Force: 36,341 (1,408 unemployed)

Dailynetworks // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Colbert County

– Current Unemployment rate: 3.9%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
-Total Labor Force: 23,882 (930 unemployed)

Canva

#18. Marengo County

– Current Unemployment rate: 4.0%
— 1 month change: +1.1%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
-Total Labor Force: 7,691 (306 unemployed)

Altairisfar // Wikicommons

#17. Mobile County

– Current Unemployment rate: 4.1%
— 1 month change: +0.9%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
-Total Labor Force: 191,798 (7,956 unemployed)

Public Domain

#16. Pickens County

– Current Unemployment rate: 4.4%
— 1 month change: +1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.0%
-Total Labor Force: 7,676 (341 unemployed)

You may also like: Highest-rated museums in Alabama

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Butler County

– Current Unemployment rate: 4.5%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
-Total Labor Force: 8,869 (396 unemployed)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Conecuh County

– Current Unemployment rate: 4.5%
— 1 month change: +1.2%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
-Total Labor Force: 4,311 (195 unemployed)

Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Washington County

– Current Unemployment rate: 4.5%
— 1 month change: +1.0%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
-Total Labor Force: 6,543 (297 unemployed)

RuralSWAlabama (Billy Milstead) // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Choctaw County

– Current Unemployment rate: 4.7%
— 1 month change: +1.1%
— 1 year change: -0.6%
-Total Labor Force: 4,393 (205 unemployed)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Barbour County

– Current Unemployment rate: 5.0%
— 1 month change: +1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
-Total Labor Force: 8,346 (418 unemployed)

Canva

#10. Sumter County

– Current Unemployment rate: 5.0%
— 1 month change: +1.6%
— 1 year change: -1.0%
-Total Labor Force: 4,546 (229 unemployed)

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Monroe County

– Current Unemployment rate: 5.1%
— 1 month change: +1.2%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
-Total Labor Force: 7,391 (379 unemployed)

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Hale County

– Current Unemployment rate: 5.5%
— 1 month change: +1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
-Total Labor Force: 5,946 (325 unemployed)

Mccallk69 // Shutterstock

#7. Macon County

– Current Unemployment rate: 5.5%
— 1 month change: +1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.6%
-Total Labor Force: 7,929 (436 unemployed)

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Clarke County

– Current Unemployment rate: 5.9%
— 1 month change: +1.5%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
-Total Labor Force: 7,837 (465 unemployed)

Canva

#5. Greene County

– Current Unemployment rate: 6.1%
— 1 month change: +1.3%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
-Total Labor Force: 2,829 (173 unemployed)

DXR // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Dallas County

– Current Unemployment rate: 6.8%
— 1 month change: +1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
-Total Labor Force: 13,727 (938 unemployed)

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Lowndes County

– Current Unemployment rate: 7.5%
— 1 month change: +1.6%
— 1 year change: -3.8%
-Total Labor Force: 3,605 (270 unemployed)

Canva

#2. Perry County

– Current Unemployment rate: 8.3%
— 1 month change: +2.4%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
-Total Labor Force: 3,108 (258 unemployed)

Canva

#1. Wilcox County

– Current Unemployment rate: 10.1%
— 1 month change: +1.7%
— 1 year change: -2.1%
-Total Labor Force: 2,603 (263 unemployed)