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Alabama Unemployment Rate Drops Again

Alabama Unemployment Rate Drops Again - Alabama's unemployment rate declined for the fifth consecutive month to 8.9 percent in September, the nation's biggest drop in unemployment by any state over the last year, officials announced Friday.

State Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said the September rate is down from 9.2 percent in August and is significantly below the 10.7 percent recorded a year ago.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said that Alabama's drop of 1.8 percentage points was the nation's biggest drop in unemployment of any state over the last 12 months.

Alabama's unemployment rate has been declining each month since measuring 11 percent in April, and the new rate is the lowest recorded in Alabama in 1 1/2 years.

Surtees said there are other positive signs, including first-time claims for unemployment being at the lowest point in two years and benefit payments being at their lowest level so far this year.

"This sharp decline is a positive sign our economy is getting back on track and Alabama is headed in the right direction," Gov. Bob Riley said Friday.

The governor said Alabama is working with more potential new industries than at any time in the last few years and he expects a major economic announcement next week.

Alabama's unemployment rate was below the national figure of 9.6 percent and was better than any of Alabama's neighbors. Figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Florida at 11.9 percent, Georgia at 10.0 percent, Mississippi at 9.8 percent, and Tennessee at 9.4 percent.

Alabama Unemployment Rate Drops Again
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