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March is Women's History Month!

Alabama's Jobless Figures Remain Below the National Average

Montgomery, Alabama – U.S. Labor Department is reporting a sharp increase in the number of people seeking unemployment benefits putting the national average at 7.2 percent. In Alabama, the unemployment figures for December 2008 will not be available until January 23rd. Meanwhile, November's jobless rate in the state was 6.1 percent, an increase over October.

According to the Alabama Department of Industrial relation, that means an additional 10,983 Alabamians were jobless in November 2008. The most job losses occurred in the areas of manufacturing , transportation, and utilities sector experienced the largest increase.

Statewide, the lowest unemployment rate was recorded in Shelby county at 3.9 percent and the highest jobless rate was in Chambers County at 14.6 percent.