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Covington County experienced 3.3 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October, according to statistics released by the Alabama Department of Labor.

The 3.3 percent is up slightly from September’s rate of 3.2 percent and is an increase from October 2023’s rate of 2.7 percent. The number represents a total workforce 15,275, with 14,778 listed as employed and 499 as unemployed during the month.

Unemployment rates for neighboring Alabama counties are: Butler County, 3.5 percent up from September’s 3.4 percent; Coffee County, 3.2 percent up from 3.1; Conecuh County, 4.1 percent up from 4.0; Crenshaw County, 3.1 percent up from 3.0 percent; Escambia County, remained the same from September’s rate of 3.6 percent; and Geneva County, held steady at 2.9 percent month over month. All counties saw an increase from rates in October 2023.

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.9 percent, unchanged from September’s rate. October’s rate is higher than October 2023’s rate of 2.8 percent. The rate represents 69,271 unemployed persons, compared to 67,395 in September and 64,027 in October 2023.

ALDOL Secretary Marty Redden said Alabama’s labor force participation rate for October increased by one-tenth of a percentage to 57.6 percent. The percentage of prime-age workers decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point to 79.1 percent over the month. Over the year, this number increased by one percentage point from 78.1 percent. Prime-age workers are those aged 25-54 years.

“This month we experienced a slight increase in our labor force participation rate. Any growth is always welcome news,” Redden said. “Additionally, the year over year growth of prime age workers is also encouraging. Nearly 80% of those prime age workers are out there doing their jobs and providing for their families.”

The number of people counted as employed grew by 18,840 over the year to 2,280,863, a new record high. The civilian labor force also reached a new record high, with 24,084 more people joining over the year, bringing the new total to 2,350,134.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 40,400 to 2,220,700, a new record high, with gains in the private education and health services sector (+10,500), the government sector (+6,300), and the leisure and hospitality sector (+5,800), among others.

Over the month, wage and salary employment increased by 7,600, with gains in the professional and business services sector (+3,000), the government sector (+2,900), and the private education and health services sector (+1,100), among others.

“While Alabama employers continue to add jobs at record high rates, we’re also seeing wage growth, which is beneficial to our entire economy,” Redden said. “We are currently supporting more jobs than ever before, and our hard-working citizens have seen their average weekly wages increase over the year by nearly $25 a week.”

Average weekly wages increased over the year by $24.97 to $1,056.18. The construction industry also realized its record high wages, peaking at $1,385.67 in October, representing a yearly increase of $114.61 per week.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.4 percent, Marshall County at 2.5 percent, and Madison and Morgan counties at 2.6 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 7.7 percent, Clarke County at 6.1 percent, and Dallas and Greene counties at 5.9 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Homewood, Vestavia Hills, and Trussville at 2.2 percent, Alabaster and Hoover at 2.3 percent, and Madison at 2.4 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 6.9 percent, Prichard at 5.7 percent, and Bessemer at 4.5 percent.