Alabama is a story of contradictions as we approach year-end.
First, the state has again reached a new record unemployment rate at 2.8 percent this past October. The Alabama Department of Labor reports that there are over 2.1 million jobs in the state, more than ever in the history of the state. Alabama’s low unemployment rate is even lower than the national unemployment rate of 3.6 percent.
In addition, this past year there have been major economic development projects around the state based on Alabama having earned the reputation as one of the best places to do business in the Nation. Automotive, aviation, service and technology jobs are all on the uptick in Alabama.
Yet, that news was released the same time that national test scores showed Alabama ranked last in the country in math education. Alabama had appeared to make scholastic progress in the past decade with increased funding for state schools, before the most recent poor results. There is plenty of blame to spread around for the results, but unfortunately failing education scores did not happen overnight in the state.
The contrast between good economic news and bad education headlines should make you wonder how we close the gap.
State leaders have worked hard to incentivize companies to make Alabama home.
Now that same urgency has to be put towards making the state not only the best in the Nation for business but making academic achievement a priority.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives.