From Staff Reports
The News Courier
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Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is now less than 3 percentage points away from finally drawing a salary as the state’s unemployment rate dropped again in December.
Bentley has thus far stood by his campaign promise that he would not be paid until the state’s unemployment rate reaches 5.2 percent. The jobless rate last month was 8.1 percent, down from 8.7 percent in November.
Bentley said in a press release that the state’s rate has continued to fall since August, and has dropped 1.7 percent over the last three months.
“Our rate is once again below the national average, and over 41,000 more Alabamians are employed now than at the beginning of the year,” he said. “I have to say that 2011 turned out to be a pretty good year, in terms of reducing unemployment, but we still have work to do.”
The state’s jobless drop was also reflected in the local numbers as Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties continued to see rates fall.
Limestone dropped three-tenths of a percentage point, from 6.7 percent in November to 6.4 in December. Madison County’s numbers fell four-tenths of a point, from 6.8 in November to 6.4 in December. Morgan County’s rate dropped from 7.5 percent to 7.2 percent.
Limestone County’s rate in December 2010 was 7.5 percent; Madison County’s was 7.1 percent; and Morgan County’s was 8.7 percent.
Tom Hill, executive director of the Limestone County Economic Development Association, said the continued jobless trend is indicative of improving conditions in the manufacturing and service sectors.
“The local folks I talk to say things are picking up and we have several companies that are hiring steadily,” he said, adding that local officials are continuing to work on industrial projects. “We had some things that came up last fall, but got quiet over the holidays. We’re expecting some activity in February.”
Alabama’s unemployment rate matched the national rate (8.7 percent) in November 2011, and fell below in December (8.5 percent). Employment in January 2011 was 1,921,819, compared to December’s employment of 1,963,395.
“There are many positive economic indicators that our economy is slowly improving,” said Tom Surtees, director of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. “Initial claims, first payments, benefit payments and weeks claimed all remain at levels below the last three years.”
Since January 2011, Alabama gained 35,400 jobs. The majority of the gains came from the sectors of trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and manufacturing. Declines were recorded in the government and information sectors.
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates in December were: Shelby County at 5.2 percent, Coffee County at 6.0 percent, Pike County at 6.4 percent and Lee County at 6.4 percent.
The counties with the highest unemployment rates in December were: Wilcox County at 16.3 percent, Bullock County at 13.7 percent, Perry County at 13.5 percent and Lowndes County at 13.5 percent.
