Unemployment slightly rose in Selma and Dallas County between June and July according to the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) numbers released on Aug. 17.

In Selma, the civilian labor force dropped from 6,265 to 6,281, employment dropped a mere nine points from 5,709 to 5,700 and unemployment rose from 556 to 581 yielding a rate increase from 8.9 to 9.3 percent.

In Dallas County, the civilian labor force decreased from 14,873 to 14,881.

Employment dropped from 13,657 to 13,636.

Unemployment rose from 1,216 to 1,245 yielding a rate increase from 8.2 to 8.4 percent.

Despite this increase, the state broke employment records claiming that over 2.1 million people are working with average weekly wages the highest in 11 years.

ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced that 2,105,513 people were counted as employed in July, up from June’s count of 2,098,121 and up from July 2017’s count of 2,077,406, representing a yearly increase of 28,107.

In July, 90,987 people were counted as unemployed, compared to 89.302 in June and 89,858 in July 2017.

“We continue to break employment records in Alabama,” said Washington. “Nearly 30,000

more people are working now than they were last year. The message is clear, Alabama: we have jobs.

“Those jobs are coming with higher wages,” said Washington. “We’ve seen wages increase both over the month and over the year. In fact, workers in Alabama are earning more weekly than they have in the past 11 years.”

Total private average weekly earnings rose to $830.55 in July, up from $815.97 in June, and up from $798.62 in July 2017.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 22,200, with gains in the manufacturing sector (+8,300), the professional and business services sector (+6,700), and the leisure and hospitality sector (+5,200), among others.

The preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July is 4.1%, which is unchanged from June’s rate, and equal to July 2017’s rate.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 3.1 percent, Cullman County at 3.5 percent, and Marshall, Elmore, and Baldwin Counties at 3.7 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 11.2 percent, Clarke County at 9.1 percent, and Perry County at 8.6 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 2.7 percent, Hoover at 3 percent, and Homewood and Alabaster at 3.1 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Prichard at 8.8 percent, and Anniston at 6.0 percent.