Department of Numbers

Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Birmingham rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 2.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Alabama rate. The unemployment rate in Birmingham peaked in April 2020 at 12.3% and is now 10.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.0% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Birmingham unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Alabama 2.4% +0.1 -0.2
Birmingham 2.2% +0.1 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Birmingham, Alabama, National

Birmingham, Alabama monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Birmingham, Alabama Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Birmingham peaked in April 2020 at 66,117. There are now 53,490 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 11,243 in August 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,384. Birmingham employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Birmingham, Alabama) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Birmingham 12,627 +648 -511

Number of Unemployed Persons

Birmingham, Alabama Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Alabama
Unemployment Rate
Birmingham
Unemployment Rate
Birmingham
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 2.4% 2.2% 12,627
October
2023
3.8% 2.3% 2.1% 11,979
September
2023
3.8% 2.2% 2.0% 11,632
August
2023
3.8% 2.1% 2.0% 11,243
July
2023
3.5% 2.1% 2.0% 11,333
June
2023
3.6% 2.2% 2.1% 11,656
May
2023
3.7% 2.2% 2.1% 11,752
April
2023
3.4% 2.2% 2.0% 11,539
March
2023
3.5% 2.3% 2.1% 11,696
February
2023
3.6% 2.5% 2.2% 12,276
January
2023
3.4% 2.6% 2.3% 12,726

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.