Counties with the highest unemployment in Alabama

While today’s unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.

Experts are mixed in their views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession. The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.

But as of January 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.7%—unchanged from the previous month and up slightly from January 2023. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 1.9% in Maryland to 5.4% in Nevada.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Alabama using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in December 2023, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County unemployment rates are released about a month behind the national numbers. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Canva

#50. Bibb County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,898 people (218 unemployed)

Curtis Lee Newton // Shutterstock

#49. Franklin County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: No change
– Total labor force: 13,997 people (342 unemployed)

Canva

#48. Lee County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 81,627 people (1,949 unemployed)

Canva

#47. Tallapoosa County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 17,290 people (438 unemployed)

George Dodd III // Shutterstock

#46. Baldwin County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 104,123 people (2,618 unemployed)

Thomas Burks // Shutterstock

#45. Randolph County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,669 people (248 unemployed)

Canva

#44. Geneva County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 11,539 people (298 unemployed)

Shackleford Photography // Shutterstock

#43. Cherokee County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 11,866 people (305 unemployed)

Canva

#42. Jefferson County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 329,322 people (8,407 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#41. Chambers County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 16,169 people (433 unemployed)

Canva

#40. Walker County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 25,995 people (693 unemployed)

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#39. Lauderdale County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 42,992 people (1,148 unemployed)

Canva

#38. Houston County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 48,902 people (1,313 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#37. Coosa County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,639 people (129 unemployed)

Canva

#36. Winston County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,701 people (268 unemployed)

Canva

#35. Coffee County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 21,809 people (603 unemployed)

Canva

#34. Dale County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 21,311 people (606 unemployed)

Carl Banks Photography // Shutterstock

#33. Jackson County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 23,567 people (649 unemployed)

Canva

#32. Talladega County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 37,629 people (1,043 unemployed)

Canva

#31. Lamar County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 5,770 people (170 unemployed)

Canva

#30. Henry County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,188 people (205 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#29. Butler County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,865 people (255 unemployed)

Jennifer Kinkead McNutt // Shutterstock

#28. Marion County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 13,745 people (401 unemployed)

Canva

#27. Etowah County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 39,424 people (1,141 unemployed)

EWY Media // Shutterstock

#26. Calhoun County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
– Total labor force: 46,719 people (1,348 unemployed)

Canva

#25. Montgomery County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 107,775 people (3,176 unemployed)

Canva

#24. Crenshaw County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,296 people (187 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#23. Washington County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,358 people (283 unemployed)

Canva

#22. Covington County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
– Total labor force: 14,925 people (449 unemployed)

John H. Davis // Shutterstock

#21. Russell County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 24,468 people (745 unemployed)

Mccallk69 // Shutterstock

#20. Macon County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,013 people (253 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#19. Pike County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 16,362 people (529 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#18. Pickens County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,947 people (264 unemployed)

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#17. Colbert County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 23,970 people (782 unemployed)

Canva

#16. Marengo County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,633 people (261 unemployed)

Canva

#15. Escambia County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 14,454 people (488 unemployed)

Leah G Moloney // Shutterstock

#14. Hale County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,172 people (218 unemployed)

Canva

#13. Mobile County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 196,951 people (6,804 unemployed)

Canva

#12. Fayette County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,743 people (240 unemployed)

Canva

#11. Conecuh County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,200 people (161 unemployed)

Canva

#10. Sumter County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,717 people (187 unemployed)

Canva

#9. Choctaw County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,320 people (181 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#8. Barbour County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,024 people (362 unemployed)

Canva

#7. Monroe County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,015 people (331 unemployed)

Canva

#6. Perry County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 3,053 people (155 unemployed)

Carolyn May Wright // Shutterstock

#5. Lowndes County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 3,549 people (187 unemployed)

Canva

#4. Clarke County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,611 people (407 unemployed)

Canva

#3. Dallas County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 13,629 people (786 unemployed)

Canva

#2. Greene County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
— 1-month change: Up 1.7 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 2.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,843 people (179 unemployed)

Canva

#1. Wilcox County

– December unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.3%
— 1-month change: Up 1.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,594 people (242 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.