Editor’s Note: This is an opinion column.
By Paul DeMarco
While inflation roars across the Nation, Alabama continues to celebrate some good economic news.
For another month, Alabama’s unemployment rate is holding steady at 2.6 percent. And to boast there is a new record for those working or looking for work. In addition, the numbers show the second highest wage increase in the history of the state of Alabama.
As reported by the Alabama Department of Labor, these numbers are some of the best in the Southeast and the Nation.
In some municipalities around the state, the unemployment rate is much lower in places like Trussville and Vestavia Hills at 1.9 percent, Homewood at 2 percent, and Alabaster and Madison at 2.1 percent. However, there is also the opposite end of the spectrum, where the unemployment numbers are much higher than the national average of 3.5 percent. For example, the city of Selma is at 9.4 percent, and Prichard is at 7.5 percent.
Yet, across the state, employers are looking for qualified individuals to come in for openings they have had as the pandemic has stretched into another year. The job openings and higher wages attract people to the state and give opportunities to those entering the workplace for the first time.
There is still a lot of work that has to be done to target areas of the state with these high unemployment rates that will lead to more jobs in these communities. For now, the current historic low Alabama unemployment rate is welcome news for the state.
Alabama leaders have to work to maintain this good economic news for the state now and in the future.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter at @Paul_DeMarco.