Montgomery, AL – Alabama's unemployment rate has gone up for the fourth consecutive month and is now 10.0 percent.
Figures compiled by the state Industrial Relations Department show Alabama had its lowest rate of the year with 9.2 percent in March. Then the rate rose to 9.3 percent in April, 9.6 percent in May and 9.9 percent in June. July's rate of 10.0 percent compares with 9.2 percent a year ago.
Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said one reason for the increase is unemployed people who had quit looking for work resuming their job searches.
Counties with the highest unemployment are Wilcox at 23.3 percent, Perry at 20.5 percent, and Dallas at 19.9 percent. Counties with the lowest unemployment are Shelby at 7.0 percent, Coffee at 7.7 percent, and Pike at 8.1 percent.
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