Houston County, State Unemployment Rate Down

Alabama's unemployment rate for November was 7.5%, down from 8.1% in October.  Alabama's November 2012 unemployment rate is also below the national rate of 7.7%. Houston County's rate in November was 6.7 percent.   

The state's November rate represents 162,182 unemployed persons, compared to 174,867 in October and 180,003 in November 2011.  All but one of the state's 67 counties experienced a drop in unemployment.

"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."

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 4.6%, Lee County and Madison County at 5.6%, and St. Clair County, Coffee County, Blount County, and Limestone County at 5.7%.  The counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 15.9%, Bullock County at 14.1%, and Dallas County at 13.2%.

Other counties in southeast Alabama posted the following employment rates for November:

Dale......6.9%

Henry.....6.2%

Geneva...6.1%

Barbour....10.3%

Pike....6.7%

Covington...7.1%