Chilton County’s October preliminary unemployment rate has slightly increased by 0.3 percent since September but decreased from October’s 2011 preliminary rate by 0.6 percent. The preliminary rate for October was 6.9 percent that was up from September’s rate of 6.6 percent.

Gov. Robert Bentley announced Friday that Alabama’s preliminary October unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent. The number was down from September’s revised rate of 8.2 percent and below the October 2011 rate of 8.5 percent.

The October 2012 rate represents 175,013 unemployed people, down from 177,632 in September and 186,251 people in October 2011.

The civilian labor force increased from 2,154,431 in September to 2,160,627 in October. The number of employed individuals increased from 1,976,799 to 1,985,614 and the number of unemployed individuals decreased from 177,632 to 175,013.

“These numbers show more Alabamians have jobs, and that is an encouraging sign that we are headed in the right direction,” Bentley said in a release. “The recent approval of Amendment 2 will help us in our efforts to bring in new companies and encourage existing companies to expand and hire more people.”

Amendment 2 allows the state to sell more bonds and get money to offer industries the opportunity to build or expand plants in Alabama.

The Amendment redefines existing legislation so bonds can be refinanced at lower interest rates but will not increase the state’s bonded indebtedness; it remains capped at $750 million.

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Shelby County at 5.4 percent, Coffee County at 6.6 percent, Madison County at 6.6 percent and Lee and St. Clair counties at 6.7 percent.

The counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox County at 17.6 percent, Bullock County at 16.2 percent and Dallas County at 14.8 percent.

“This month everything worked out the way we wish it would always work out,” Alabama Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said in a release. “Our labor force grew, the number of Alabamians working increased, and the number of those unemployed decreased. We hope to continue seeing these positive signs in the future.”