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Covington County experienced a month-over-month increase in its preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June, according to data from the Alabama Department of Labor.

The county’s rate jumped from 2.3 percent in May to 3 percent in June. The rate remains below the June 2022 rate of 3.2 percent.

Adjacent counties experienced a similar trend. Butler County’s June rate of 3.2 percent was up from May’s rate of 2.5. Coffee County’s rate came in at 2.7 percent, up from 2.1 for the prior month. Conecuh County recorded a rate of 3.9 in June, up from 2.8. Crenshaw County’s rate was 2.8, up from 2.2. Escambia came in at 3.2 percent, up from 2.6 percent and Geneva County’s rate was 2.7 percent, up from May’s 2.1 percent.

Alabama’s June unemployment rate held steady from May at a record low 2.2 percent. June’s rate is below June 2022’s rate of 2.6 percent. The rate represents 50,427 unemployed persons, a new record low, compared to 51,419 in May and 58,505 in June 2022.

The number of people counted as employed increased by 20,928 over the year to a new record high of 2,253,490. The civilian labor force also reached a new record high of 2,303,917, with 12,850 more people joining over the year.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 55,700, reaching a new record high of 2,163,600, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (+11,400), the private education and health services sector (+10,000), and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+8,400), among others.

Over the month, wage and salary employment grew by 16,900. Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+8,300), the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+2,800), and the manufacturing sector (+2,700), among others.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2 percent, Morgan County at 2.1 percent, and Madison and Cullman Counties at 2.2 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 7.5 percent, Perry County at 6.2, and Dallas County at 5.7.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Trussville and Vestavia Hills at 1.8 percent, Madison at 1.9, and Alabaster, Homewood, and Hoover at 2 percent.

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 6.7 percent, Prichard at 5.6, and Bessemer at 3.9 percent.