Alabama Unemployment

According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for Alabama fell 0.6 percentage points in December 2011 to 8.1%. The state unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the national rate for the month. The unemployment rate in Alabama peaked in September 2009 at 10.4% and is now 2.3 percentage points lower. You can also see Alabama unemployment compared to other states.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Alabama	8.1%	-0.6	-1.0

Note: All comparisons are made with December data as January state level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Alabama, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray

Alabama Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Alabama peaked in September 2009 at 223,871. There are now 49,752 fewer people unemployed in the state. Alabama job growth data is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Alabama	174,119	-13,377	-19,039

Number of Unemployed Persons

Alabama Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Alabama Unemployment Rate	Alabama Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	8.1%	174,119
November 2011	8.7%	8.7%	187,496
October 2011	8.9%	9.3%	201,042
September 2011	9.0%	9.8%	211,132
August 2011	9.1%	9.9%	213,222
July 2011	9.1%	10.0%	215,631
June 2011	9.1%	9.9%	213,886
May 2011	9.0%	9.6%	206,578
April 2011	9.0%	9.3%	199,749
March 2011	8.9%	9.2%	195,210
February 2011	9.0%	9.3%	196,714
January 2011	9.1%	9.3%	196,125