By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Alabama's unemployment rate rose to 3-point-5 percent in May. That's the highest figure of the year but it's still below the national rate.
State Industrial Relations Director Phyllis Kennedy says the May rate was up from three-point-three percent in April ... and it represented about 56-hundred more Alabamians out of work.
Kennedy says that while May's rate was up, Alabama has enjoyed record low unemployment during three of the five months so far this year.
The comparable national unemployment rate for May was 4-point-5 percent.
Alabama counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Shelby at 2-point-1 percent, Baldwin at 2-point-2 percent, and Madison and Autauga at 2-point-3 percent.
The highest counties were Wilcox at 7-point-4 percent, Dallas at 6-point-4 percent and Perry at 6-point-3 percent.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)