Chilton County’s preliminary unemployment rate of 5.6 percent for April represented half a percent drop from March’s rate of 6.1 percent.

The rate for April was still above the 5.1-percent rate measured in April 2013.

Chilton County’s rate is lower than most of its neighbors (Coosa County at 7.6 percent, Elmore at 5.8, Dallas at 11.7, Perry at 11.9 and Bibb at 6.5) but higher than two (Shelby at 4.2 and Autauga at 5.4).

Shelby County’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the state.

The statewide, seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 6.9 percent is higher than the March rate of 6.7 percent and the April 2013 rate of 6.5 percent.

April’s rate represents 147,341 unemployed persons, compared to 144,447 in March and 139,322 in April 2013.

“Seasonal adjustment certainly played a role in this month’s unemployment rate increase,” Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said. “The state data did not meet seasonal expectations, while at the same time, only one of Alabama’s 67 counties showed an increase in their rate this month.

“The state data are seasonally adjusted while the county data are not. However, this is an estimate and will probably be revised as the seasonal factors become more quantifiable as the year goes on.”

Only Greene County registered an increase in their unemployment rate, while all other counties saw declines ranging from 0.4 percent (Winston County) to 1.2 percent (Perry County).

Wage and salary employment increased in April by 10,000, rising to 1,920,600. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+4,700), the professional and business services sector (+2,900), and the construction sector (+600), among others. Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 15,200, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (+6,200), education and health services sector (+3,900), and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+3,300), among others.

“Other facts are more promising: there is a significant increase, both over the month and over the year, in the number of jobs employers are reporting; we are registering record numbers of job orders on JobLink; online job ads are up over 17 percent; and initial unemployment compensation claims and payments remain at five-year lows,” Surtees said. “All of these things point to a much healthier job market than we have seen in some time.”

JobLink, the state’s online free jobs database (www.joblink.alabama.gov), registered a record 23,691 active job orders in April. The Help Wanted Online (HWOL) data showed 57,396 total job ads were placed online in Alabama, up 17.8 percent from March. The most advertised careers are: heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, first line supervisors of retail workers, and registered nurses.

There were 15,024 initial unemployment compensation claims and benefit payments totaled $22,821,948, the lowest amounts in five years.