Montgomery, Ala. (WDNews) — Alabama’s unemployment rate increased slightly in April while the state also reached a new record high for total jobs, according to the Alabama Department of Workforce.
Secretary Greg Reed announced Friday that Alabama’s preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was 2.8%, up from 2.7% in March. The rate remains lower than April 2025’s unemployment rate of 2.9%.
According to the department, Alabama recorded 67,115 unemployed individuals in April, compared to 65,467 in March and 69,951 one year ago.
The state’s number of employed workers increased by 3,579 over the year to 2,311,287. Alabama’s civilian labor force also rose to 2,378,402.
Officials said wage and salary employment climbed by 13,200 over the year to a new record high of 2,211,300 jobs statewide.
The largest job gains came in government, private education and health services, and leisure and hospitality sectors.
Construction employment reached 111,800 jobs, marking the highest level for the industry since January 2008. Manufacturing workers also saw wage growth, with average weekly earnings reaching a record high of $1,407.08.
“Construction and manufacturing are among the most vital sectors of our economy,” Reed said. “When we continue to see growth and even more importantly, wage growth, in these sectors, that signifies sustained economic growth.”
Shelby and Elmore counties posted the state’s lowest unemployment rates at 2.0%, while Greene County recorded the highest at 5.5%.
Among Alabama’s larger cities, Trussville and Pelham reported the lowest unemployment rates at 1.7%, while Prichard recorded the highest at 5.4%.
