Alabama has set a record low with the latest unemployment figures – the statewide rate for January of 2018 was only 3.7% which is a huge improvement over the 5.5% number posted this time a year ago.  The latest rate for Cherokee County is 3.9% – once again, considerably lower than the surrounding counties:  DeKalb at 4.2%, Etowah at 4.3, Cleburne at 4.6 and Calhoun at 4.7%.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates include Shelby County at a flat 3%, Cullman County at 3.5%, and Marshall, Madison, Elmore and Blount Counties, each at 3.6%.  Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 10.4%, Clarke County at 8.1%, and Lowndes County at 7.5%.

All 67 counties in the state experienced yearly drops in their unemployment rate – ranging from 1.2 percentage points in Autauga County to 4.9 percentage points in Wilcox County.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were Vestavia Hills at 2.5%, Homewood and Hoover at 2.8%, and Alabaster and Northport at 2.9%  Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Prichard at 7.7%, Selma at a flat 7%, and Anniston at 5.8%