(WDNews) — Retail, health care and transportation jobs continue to account for the highest number of job openings in Alabama, according to workforce development data released in a 2025 state report.
The Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways identified retail sales as the most in-demand occupation statewide, with more than 9,100 openings reported. Stockers and order fillers followed with about 7,800 openings, while hand laborers and freight movers accounted for nearly 5,800 jobs.
Other occupations with a high number of openings include assemblers and fabricators, truck drivers, restaurant supervisors, nursing assistants and registered nurses.
The top 10 in-demand jobs by number of openings statewide include:
Retail sales workers: 9,140
Stockers and order fillers: 7,830
Hand laborers and freight movers: 5,795
Assemblers and fabricators: 5,090
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers: 4,565
General and operations managers: 3,690
Food preparation supervisors: 3,630
Nursing assistants: 3,500
Restaurant cooks: 3,420
Registered nurses: 3,225
The data, published in January 2025, reflects reported openings at that time and may not capture current hiring levels.
While Alabama typically reports low unemployment rates, the state also has one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the nation. State officials note that barriers such as access to training, child care and transportation can limit employment opportunities for many residents.
Jim Purcell, executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, said job seekers have access to workforce training programs designed to prepare workers for high-demand fields.
He encouraged residents to explore training through the Alabama Industrial Development Training program and local community colleges, which offer degree-completion and credential programs in high-wage, high-demand industries, often at low or no cost.
Salary levels among in-demand jobs vary widely. General and operations managers report a median annual salary of about $98,000, while architectural and engineering managers earn the highest median income at nearly $138,000, despite ranking lower in total openings statewide.
Retail sales positions, while the most abundant, rank among the lowest-paying in-demand jobs, with a median annual income of about $26,400.
Alabama’s median household income is approximately $59,600, according to state data, placing many high-demand occupations below what is considered middle-class earnings.
A full list of more than 230 in-demand occupations and salary estimates is included in the state’s annual workforce report.
