MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -
Governor Robert Bentley has announced that Alabama's preliminary unemployment rate for November has dropped to 7.5%, which represents 162,182 unemployed persons.
This number is down from October's rate of 8.1% and is below the November 2011 rate of 8.3%. The current unemployment rate nationwide is 7.7%.
"We're going to continue on the same path of working hard every day to recruit and attract more jobs for this state," Governor Bentley said. "The unemployment rate can fluctuate given the time of year. We are encouraged that the overall trend shows a decreasing unemployment rate, and I will continue my efforts to create more jobs until everyone who wants a job is able to find one."
"November's rate indicates that Alabama's employers are expecting a strong holiday season," said Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees. "The increase in retail hiring means that many people have jobs this Christmas that may otherwise have not. Even if some of the jobs are temporary, that still means that thousands of Alabamians will be able to provide for their families during the holiday season."
Hiring in general merchandise and department stores for retail trade helped increase employment by 3,700 in November.
"We also continue to see positive indicators in other areas," Surtees added. "We are consistently seeing initial claims and benefits payments at pre-recession levels, and record numbers of active job orders on www.joblink.alabama.gov. Sixty-six of 67 counties experienced a drop in their unemployment rate this month."
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