Alabama’s unemployment is much lower, but there are so many jobs available

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Alabama’s unemployment rate is actually still falling, but the jobs market is seeing similar trends to that national data.

The most recent data in Alabama is from all the way back in March, so it’s too soon to tell what the peak quit rate is here.

“This is sort of an experimental dataset for the states,” said Tara Hutchison, ADOL Spokesperson. They just received that latest data and may get more by the end of the month.

Going by that most recent data, 2.6 percent of people reported quitting their jobs in March, a consistent trend.

“From year to year, month to month, there’s no clear rise or fall,” she said.

What they do know is unemployment is just 3.1 percent.

“We are inching forward every month getting a tenth of a percentage point closer to that pre-pandemic record low rate of unemployment, 2.6 percent,” said Hutchison.

Even so, there are hundreds of available jobs -- giving some insight into where people may have left jobs.

“It’s registered nurses, retail sales persons, and truck drivers,” listed Hutchison.

Hutchison says employers are forced to be more competitive, and they are paying more.

“So it’s a great time to be a job seeker, wages are up, benefits are up,” she added.

She says the ADOL website can point you in the right direction to help you find a job if you’re looking.

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