September 16, 2022
United States Employment Situation
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the 50 states and DC released at 10:00am on September 16, 2022In August, unemployment fell in 7 states, rose in 32, and remained unchanged in 12.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in District of Columbia. The lowest unemployment rate was 1.9 percent in Minnesota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent.
In August, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 14. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in Kentucky. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in Mississippi.
Alabama Employment Situation
Alabama lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent in August.
Over the past twelve months, Alabama added 41,700 payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.7 percentage point from 3.3 percent.
In August, Alabama’s private sector added 3,200 net private payroll jobs and over the past twelve months it added 39,400 private payroll jobs in the establishment survey.
In the household survey, the number of unemployed fell by 401 on net in August, and over the past year employment rose by 67,881.
Alabama’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.2 percent in August. Since last year, the labor force participation rate rose by 0.9 percentage point.
Alabama Payroll Employment
Alabama lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Alabama added 5,600 jobs. Over the past twelve months, Alabama added 41,700 payroll jobs, or 2 percent. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 315,000 in August, or rose by 0.2 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with August, nonfarm payrolls rose by 5,840,000 jobs, or 4 percent. Alabama is tied for 42nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
During August, Alabama’s private-sector added 3,200 jobs, or approximately 0.2 percent. The private-sector in Alabama added 4,200 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in Alabama added 39,400, or 2.4 percent. Alabama private-sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 308,000 jobs in August, or 0.2 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,702,000 jobs in the private sector, or 4.6 percent. Alabama is tied for 42nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during August were Government (1,700) and Professional and Business Services tied with Education and Health Services; and Leisure and Hospitality (500). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (100) and Information tied with Financial Activities (0).
The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Leisure and Hospitality (2,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,900). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Manufacturing (-1,400) and Government (-1,700).
Alabama Labor Force Statistics
Labor Force Participation
The labor force participation rate in Alabama remained unchanged at 57.2 percent in August. At a labor force participation rate of 57.2 percent, Alabama ranks 46th in the nation. The labor force participation rate in Alabama rose by 0.9 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 58.2 percent last occurring in November 2012. The series high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama last occurred in November 1997 when the labor force participation rate hit 64.5 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 55.4 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the labor force participation rate in Alabama.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.3 percentage
points over the month to 62.4 percent in August. That rate rose by 0.7
percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national
labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The
10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8
percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020
at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force
participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the Alabama civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in August rose to 55.8 from 55.7 percent in the prior month. At 55.8 percent, Alabama is tied for 45th among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in Alabama rose by 1.3 percentage points from a year earlier.
The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in Alabama was 56 percent last occurring in October 2019. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in Alabama last occurred in March 1998 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 61.5 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 47.8 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the employment-to-population ratio in Alabama.
The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month to 60.1 percent in August. That rate rose by 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.
State employment and unemployment data for September is scheduled for release October 21, 2022. The national employment situation report for September will be released October 07, 2022.