Alabama’s unemployment rate continues to improve – dropping from 6.0% in June, to 5.7% for the month of July; that, according to figures released Friday by the Alabama Department of Labor.

That’s the lowest rate posted in Alabama in the last eight years.

July’s rate represents 123,095 unemployed persons, compared to 130,298 in June.

The last time the number was at or below 123,095 was in June of 2008 when the number of unemployed measured 118,828.

As a matter of fact every county in Alabama saw its rate decrease over the month, and 66 of 67 counties saw their rates decrease over the year.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 4.2%, Elmore County at 4.7% and Baldwin County at 4.8%.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 14.3%, Perry County at 12.1%, and Clarke County at 11.4%.

Locally, Cherokee County posted an unemployment rate of just 4.9%; surrounding counties also posted encouraging numbers – with Etowah at 5.7%; Cleburne at 5.9%; DeKalb at 6.0% and Calhoun County at 6.4%.