Alabama closed out 2019 with its unemployment rate holding steady at a record low of 2.7%, the Department of Labor announced.
The preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was unchanged from November and well below the 3.8% rate of December 2018.
The Alabama rate was lower than the national rate of 3.5%.
“I’m so proud to be able to close out this decade with record-breaking economic measures,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a news release. “All year long, we’ve had good news to share, and to be able to end the year, and the decade, on such a positive note is wonderful."
A record number of more than 2.2 million people were employed in December, about 84,000 more than a year ago, the Department of Labor said.
Counties with the lowest unemployment rates included Shelby at 1.8%, Marshall, Madison, and Cullman at 2.1%, and Tuscaloosa, St. Clair, Morgan, Limestone, Lee, and Elmore at 2.2%.
The highest rates were in Wilcox County at 6.8%, Clarke County at 5.5%, and Greene and Lowndes counties at 4.8%.
Alabama’s jobless rate had never dropped as low as 3% until last year.