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Covington County experienced 3.5 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November, according to statistics released by the Alabama Department of Labor.

The 3.5 percent rate is up slightly from October’s rate of 3.3 percent and is an increase from November 2023’s rate of 2.8 percent. The number represents a total workforce 15,054, with 14,529 listed as employed and 525 as unemployed during the month.

Covington County’s unemployment rate ranked 33rd out of the state’s 67 counties.

Unemployment rates for neighboring Alabama counties are: Butler County, 3.8 percent up from October’s 3.5 percent; Coffee County, 3.6 percent up from 3.2; Conecuh County, 4.5 percent up from 4.1; Crenshaw County, 3.5 percent up from 3.1 percent; Escambia County, 3.9 percent up from October’s rate of 3.6 percent; and Geneva County, 3.2 percent up from October’s rate of 2.9 percent.

All of the above listed counties experienced an increase from rates in November 2023.

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Marty Redden said that Alabama’s labor force participation rate for November remained unchanged at 57.6 percent. The percentage of prime-age workers decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point to 78.9 percent over the month. Over the year, this number increased by half of a percentage point from 78.4 percent. Prime-age workers are those aged 25-54 years.

Statewide, the preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.1 percent, up from October 2024’s rate of 2.9 percent. November’s rate is above November 2023’s rate of 2.8 percent. The rate represents 73,278 unemployed persons, compared to 69,257 in October and 64,404 in November 2023.

The number of people counted as employed increased by 17,150 over the year to 2,278,876. The civilian labor force also increased to 2,352,154, a new record high, with 26,024 more people joining over the year.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 37,300 to 2,232,000, also a new record high, with gains in the private education and health services sector (+8,800), the leisure and hospitality sector (+6,500), and the government sector (+6,200), among others.

“Alabama employers continue to add jobs at a record pace,” said Redden. “Only a few short years ago, our goal was to break two million wage and salary jobs. Now, we’re climbing closer and closer to two and a quarter million. This represents remarkable progress.”

Additionally, average total private weekly wages increased by $42.38 over the year to $1,065.50, a new record high.

Several industry sectors in Alabama saw record high employment in November, including: the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (420,100) (tied with record set in 2022), the financial activities sector (105,900), the professional and business services sector (270,800), and the private education and health services sector (277,000).

“We’re seeing great growth in both employment and wages in Alabama,” continued Redden. “More people working and more money in their pockets is always welcome news, especially at the holidays.”

Alabama counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.6 percent, Morgan County at 2.7, and Chilton, Cullman, Madison, Marshall, and St. Clair counties each at 2.8 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 9.3 percent, Clarke and Greene counties at 6.6, and Dallas County at 6.4 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Homewood at 2.3 percent, Hoover and Vestavia Hills at 2.4, and Madison at 2.5 percent.

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 7.4 percent, Prichard at 5.8, and Bessemer at 4.9 percent.