The Clanton Advertiser

Chilton County’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent, according to numbers released Friday.

The county’s preliminary jobless rate for July was down from June’s 8.4 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate rose in July to 8.3 percent, up from June’s rate of 7.8 percent, but below last year’s rate of 9.2 percent.

July’s rate represents 179,535 unemployed persons, compared to 168,602 in June and 202,311 in July 2011.

“We see more partial claims in July and December than in any other month,” said Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees. “Last month was no exception.”

Partial unemployment claims – claims that are filed by workers who have been laid off but for a specified time of less than three weeks – increased in July to 9,259, up significantly from the 2,750 recorded in May and 3,181 in June.

The total workforce also increased by more than 5,000 people this month.

July’s civilian labor workforce totaled 2,157,890, compared to 2,152,849 in June.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 6.0 percent, Blount County at 7.4 percent and Coffee County at 7.5 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 19.6 percent, Dallas County at 17.8 percent and Lowndes County at 16.7 percent.