Huntsville has lowest unemployment rate in the nation

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Huntsville has another “first,” these days: it has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. (Hville Blast)

Lately, it seems like Huntsville has been coming in first in a lot of categories and competitions. We are the number one place to live in the U.S., we are first in population in Alabama, we have the number one museum in the South and now, we have another first: the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S.

At 1.6 percent, Huntsville’s unemployment rate is tied for the lowest of any city in the country. Wow.

Huntsville’s unemployment rate

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Huntsville’s diverse industries help contribute to it having the nation’s lowest unemployment rate. (Hville Blast)

The unemployment rankings are compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. When those ranking were released last week, Huntsville’s 1.6 percent unemployment rate was tied with another Alabama city — Decatur — and with Rapid City, SD, as the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S.

“Alabamians have been finding jobs in record numbers for many months now. Therefore, it is not surprising that we are home to the lowest unemployment rates among major metropolitan areas in the nation.  Alabama workers are not only trail blazers in aerospace, automotive and agriculture industries – among others – but we are eager to enhance our quality of life. For some time, we’ve been saying ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ is open for business and the job numbers continue to bear that out.”

Gov. Kay Ivey

Alabama’s economy

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Labor experts say Huntsville’s unemployment rate is indicative of a statewide trend. (Hville Blast)

While Huntsville and Decatur can celebrate being number one in the country, Birmingham also saw its unemployment rate atop the rankings for metro areas with a population of one million or more. At 1.8 percent, the Magic City trails Huntsville and Decatur, but it’s pretty amazing to see three Alabama cities thriving like this.

“These rankings are just more proof of how well Alabama’s economy has recovered since the pandemic and demonstrates the dedication in our communities to offer our families good jobs. To think that three Alabama metros beat out all the other metros in the nation is something to be really proud of, and I certainly hope that we continue this streak of achievements.”

Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington

Governor Ivey recently announced that Alabama’s state unemployment rate in March set a new record low at 2.3 percent.

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Michael Seale
Michael Seale
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