—
Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties saw unemployment numbers rise in January, according to data released Monday by the state Department of Labor.
Limestone's jobless rate increased by 1.2 percent from December to January, the data shows, while Madison's rate increased from 5.5 to 6.6 percent. Morgan County's rate increased from 6.1 to 7.2 percent.
The state's unemployment rate for January measured 6.9 percent, which was the third-lowest in the Southeast and a full percentage point below the national rate.
The January rate was up slightly from December’s revised rate of 6.8 percent and equaled the revised November rate of 6.9 percent. Alabama now has three months of rates below 7 percent. The last time the rate was under 7 percent was in November 2008.
Alabama’s January rate was below the 7.3 percent measured a year ago and was below the national rate of 7.9 percent.
“The long-term trend in Alabama’s unemployment rate is encouraging news,” Gov. Robert Bentley said Monday.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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