Montgomery, Alabama – (AP) - Alabama's unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in March, which is the highest rate in more than 22 years.
The last time Alabama hit 9.0 percent was in November 1986.
The state Department of Industrial Relations says the March rate
is up from 8.4 percent in February. It compares to a national rate
of 8.5 percent.
The March rate is more than double the 4.3 percent Alabama
recorded a year ago. The March rate represents more than 193,000
unemployed Alabamians.
Alabama's rate is lower than its neighbors. Georgia is at 9.2
percent, Mississippi at 9.4 percent, Tennessee at 9.6 percent, and
Florida at 9.7 percent.
The department says the counties with the highest unemployment
rates are Wilcox at 22.5 percent, Dallas and Chambers at 18.1
percent, and Lowndes at 17.6 percent. The counties with the lowest
rates are Shelby at 6.3 percent, Madison at 6.5 percent and Coffee
at 7.1 percent.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)