Alabama Employment Picture Better

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama’s unemployment rate is down slightly to 6.1 percent.

The governor’s office released a statement Friday saying the April jobless rate declined one-tenth of a percent from the March rate of 6.2 percent.

Wage and salary employment increased by 16,500 jobs in April, with the largest number of jobs coming in the trade, transportation and utilities sector. The professional and business services sector added another 3,500 jobs.

Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald Washington says the economic numbers are promising. He says more people are looking for work and actually working than any other time in 2016.

The state’s jobless rate remains well above the national rate of 5 percent, however.

Alabama unemployment is worst in Wilcox County at 12.8 percent. Shelby County has the state’s lowest job rate at 4 percent.