Jobless rates in both Alabama and Limestone County stayed flat in February at 3.7 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively, according to figures released Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey’s office.

Rates in surrounding counties also saw very little change from January to February. Lauderdale’s rate dropped from 4.5 to 4.4 percent, while Madison County’s rate went from 3.6 to 3.7 percent. Morgan County’s rate was at 4 percent, up slightly from January’s rate of 3.9.

The statewide rate is down significantly from February 2017’s rate of 5.3 percent. It’s also below the national rate of 4.1 percent.

Last month, there were 80,685 unemployed persons, compared to 80,807 in January and 115,397 in February 2017. About 2,080,339 people were counted as employed, up from January’s count of 2,079,876, and up from February 2017’s count of 2,060,841.

“The fact that we are able to maintain our record low unemployment rate for yet another month shows that we are, in fact, keeping Alabamians working,” said Ivey. “More people are working, and our economy is adding jobs. This is a combination I’m proud of and one we hope to maintain for many more months to come.”

State Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said it wasn’t long ago the state was trying to hit a “magic number” in terms of the jobless rate. He added the numbers show the state is consistently adding jobs to the economy.

Wage and salary employment grew in February by 14,800. Monthly gains were seen in the education and health services sector (+4,700), the government sector (+2,600) and the professional and business services sector (+2,400), among others.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased by 19,300, with gains in the education and health services sector (+5,000), the professional and business sector (+4,300), the leisure and hospitality sector (+4,200) and the manufacturing industry (+2,400), among others.

“We have maintained a wage and salary employment count of over 2 million for 11 months in a row now,” Washington said. “These numbers show that employers are confident in the economy and are continuing to hire.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby (3.1 percent), Cullman (3.6 percent) and Marshall, Madison and Blount (3.7 percent each).

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox (10.5 percent), Clarke (8.0 percent) and Lowndes (7.4 percent).

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are Vestavia Hills (2.6 percent), Homewood (2.9 percent) and Alabaster and Hoover (3 percent). Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Prichard (7.5 percent), Selma (7.2 percent) and Anniston (6.5 percent).