The state's labor force participation rate remained at 57% during May, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. During that same period, the number of prime-age workers increased by 0.1 percentage point to 79.2%, the department said. Over the year, that figure was up 0.16 percentage point from 77.6%.

Prime-age workers are those aged 25-54.

“We continue to see encouraging annual increases in prime-age workers joining the labor force,” said Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “And the civilian labor force — the number of people working — is at an all-time high.”

“In May, about 38,000 more people decided to get a job than at the same time last year.”

RELATED: Alabama's labor force participation rate unchanged in January

Alabama's preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.0%, slightly down from the revised 3.1% rate in April 2023. The May unemployment rate is higher than the 2.3% rate in May 2023. This rate represents 70,679 unemployed people, down from 72,045 in April 2023 and 52,341 in May 2023.

The number of employed persons increased by 19,648 people in one year to 2,266,164, a record high. The civilian labor force also increased by 37,986 people in one year to 2,336,843, also a record high.

The number of wage and salary employees increased by 49,200 over the year to a record high of 2,208,400, with increases due to factors including the private education and health sectors (+11,500), the government sector (+9,200) and the manufacturing sector (+8,600).

“This job growth signals a positive trend in our economy,” Washington said. “As employment continues to reach record highs, wages are also rising in many sectors, some reaching all-time highs.”

Additionally, trade, transport and public works saw weekly wages reach $881.01, up $56.88 from last year and a record high.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer for Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on X. @ShipleyAusten