Alabama Unemployment Numbers Up

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's unemployment rate has risen to 6.5 percent. The state Department of Labor announced two months' worth of unemployment figures Friday because the September numbers were delayed by the partial shutdown of the federal government in October. The department said the state's unemployment rate rose from 6.2 percent in August to 6.4 percent in September and 6.5 percent in October. The state had an increase in unemployment of more than 3,700 people from August to October. State Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees says thousands of Alabamians were out of work in October due to the federal government shutdown and that affected the unemployment figures. Shelby County had the lowest unemployment rate in October at 4.3 percent and Wilcox County had the highest rate at 15.5 percent