Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
REPORT: Birmingham Metro May 2024 jobless rate decreased in every county
![REPORT: Birmingham Metro May 2024 jobless rate decreased in every county 1 Birmingham](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2023-10-12-at-12.04.18-PM-e1697134426101-edited-1200x628.png?resize=1200%2C628&quality=80&ssl=1)
According to the latest Alabama Department of Labor figures released in late June, the unemployment rate in every county within the Birmingham/Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) decreased in May.
Overall, the metro area unemployment level fell from 2.4% in April 2024 to 2.2% in May 2024.
The Birmingham Metro area remains a full 1.8% lower than the national average jobless rate of 4.0%.
“The Birmingham-Hoover MSA (defined by the BLS) continues to show resiliency in the labor market in the face of high interest rates. The latest reported unemployment rate (2.2%) remains lower than any pre-Covid economic period in Birmingham, going back to 1990.”
Ben Meadows, Ph.D., UAB Collat School of Business
Statewide rate is low, increasing since 2023
How did your city and county fare in May 2024 compared to the month before?
The cities:
- Alabaster — 1.8%, down 0.1%
- Bessemer— 3.4%, unchanged
- Birmingham — 3.0%, down 0.3%
- Homewood — 1.7%, down 0.1%
- Hoover — 1.8%, down 0.2%
- Vestavia — 1.7%, down 0.1
The counties:
- Blount — 2.1%, down 0.3%
- Chilton — 2.1%, down 0.2
- Jefferson — 2.3%, down 0.3%
- Shelby — 1.8%, down 0.2%%
- St. Clair —2.1%, down 0.2%
- Walker — 2.5%, down 0.2%
How does Birmingham metro compare with others?
![REPORT: Birmingham Metro May 2024 jobless rate decreased in every county 2 Birmingham](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Childrens-of-Alabama-Helicopter-83.jpg?resize=1500%2C1000&quality=89&ssl=1)
All of Alabama’s MSA’s also saw a decrease in their May 2024 unemployment numbers.
- Huntsville — 2.0%, down 0.2%
- Gadsden — 2.7%, down 0.3%
- Tuscaloosa — 2.4%, down 0.1%
- Anniston/Oxford/Jacksonville — 2.6%, down 0.3%
- Montgomery — 2.4%, down 0.2%
- Dothan — 2.4%, down 0.3%
- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley — 2.2%, down 0.8%
- Mobile —2.9%, down 0.4%
Statewide, Alabama’s unemployment rate hovers at 3.0%, a full one percent lower than the national 4.0% jobless level.
Want to dive deeper into the numbers? Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Alabama Department of Labor’s websites for the latest data.
What do you think of the latest Alabama jobless numbers? Tell us on Instagram in the comment section by tagging us at @bhamnow