The Alabama Department of Labor reported that the state's labor force participation rate reached a record high of 57.2% in December, and wages were also higher than a year ago.

However, the state's unemployment rate in December also showed a slight increase from November.

“Our labor force participation rate continues to rise, with the prime-age labor force participation rate increasing by nearly half a percentage point annually, and we continue our efforts to reach more of our underutilized workforce. “We will continue to do so,” he said. Fitzgerald Washington, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Labor. “We know that a state's labor force participation rate is tied to demographics, so we need people to work with us to bring into the workforce people who are traditionally underrepresented by employers. there is.”

According to the ministry, the average total weekly wage in the private sector increased by $32.08 from a year earlier to a record high of $1,035 in December. Average weekly wages in the construction, trades, transportation and public works sectors reached record highs, with construction wages increasing by $113.92 per week (annual) and trade, transport and public works wages increasing by $21.44 per week (annual) increased.

“It's always exciting to announce that weekly wages have hit a new record high,” said Washington. “Two of his industries continue to grow: construction and trade, transportation and utilities.

“This month saw record highs, and employment levels in trade, transportation, and utilities also hit record highs.”

Alabama's preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 2.6%, up slightly from 2.4% in November. The December interest rate is equal to the December 2022 interest rate of 2.6%. This rate corresponds to 59,454 unemployed people, with 55,462 unemployed people in November 2022 and 59,986 unemployed people in December 2022.

The number of people counted as employed rose by 40,194 over the year to a record 2,264,098. The civilian workforce also increased to an all-time high of 2,323,552, with an additional 39,662 people added during the year.

Wage and salaried employment increased by 38,100 jobs during the year, reaching a record high of 2,184,500 jobs, according to the report, including in the private education and health services sector (+10,700), government sector (+6,900), and trade, transportation, Public utility sector (+4,600), etc.

Wage and salary employment increased by 300 people in December. Monthly increases were particularly seen in the trade, transport and public works sector (+3,600 people), the manufacturing sector (+2,800 people) and the financial activities sector (+1,300 people).

This month's unemployment rate will be released on March 11th.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer at Yellowhammer News.