Counties with the highest unemployment in Alabama

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Alabama using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Alabama.

#25. Marion County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,088 people (452 unemployed)

#24. Pike County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,466 people (571 unemployed)

#23. Russell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,293 people (848 unemployed)

#22. Colbert County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,761 people (868 unemployed)

#21. Calhoun County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 46,596 people (1,629 unemployed)

#20. Escambia County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,637 people (523 unemployed)

#19. Etowah County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 40,318 people (1,457 unemployed)

#18. Mobile County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 193,397 people (6,924 unemployed)

#17. Bullock County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,765 people (176 unemployed)

#16. Henry County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,362 people (273 unemployed)

#15. Pickens County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,130 people (305 unemployed)

#14. Hale County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,300 people (252 unemployed)

#13. Conecuh County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,356 people (178 unemployed)

#12. Marengo County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,699 people (333 unemployed)

#11. Macon County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,935 people (339 unemployed)

#10. Barbour County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,122 people (363 unemployed)

#9. Sumter County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,688 people (216 unemployed)

#8. Lowndes County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,603 people (176 unemployed)

#7. Choctaw County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,247 people (206 unemployed)

#6. Monroe County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,856 people (351 unemployed)

#5. Perry County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,164 people (172 unemployed)

#4. Greene County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,932 people (174 unemployed)

#3. Dallas County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,715 people (813 unemployed)

#2. Clarke County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,765 people (472 unemployed)

#1. Wilcox County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,635 people (204 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.