Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The unemployment rate released by the Governor’s Office on Nov. 18 shows Chilton County is maintaining a low unemployment rate.

The county’s unemployment rate for the month was reported as 2.2%. Only a slight increase from 2.1% in September, according to Alabama Department of Labor information.

There was also an increase in the number of people counted in the civilian labor force to 20,581 from 20,469 the previous month.

On the state level, there was also a slight increase in unemployment. October saw 2.7% unemployment, while it had been 2.6% in September.

“Despite the challenging economic climate nationally, Alabama continues holding steady. At 2.7 percent, we are now supporting more jobs than at any point in our state’s history,” Gov. Key Ivey said of the statistics. “Our wages continue to move in the right direction, more world-leading firms are relocating here every day, and our workforce development efforts are producing newly credentialed workers almost every day. It’s more than apparent that we have much to be thankful for as we head into the holiday season.”

During October, industries increasing jobs in the state included “professional and business services sector (+3,900), the government sector (+3,600) and the trade, transportation and utilities sector (+2,600), among others,” according to the Governor’s Office press release. “Total private weekly wages increased in October to $1,017.98, a new record high. Wages in the construction industry, the trade, transportation and utilities industry, as well as the professional and business services industry saw new record highs in October.”

“Alabama experienced remarkable job growth, both over the month and over the year, in October,” Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said. “This growth actually set a brand-new record in Alabama for how many jobs our economy is supporting. We have nearly 47,000 more jobs now than we did last year. That’s extremely encouraging.”

Shelby County remains the county with the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 1.8% for October.