The job market in Elmore County and across Alabama improved in October, Gov. Robert Bentley announced Friday.
Elmore County’s unemployment rate dropped by almost a full percentage point to 8 percent. Statewide, the jobless rate dropped half a point to 9.3 percent.
The county rate represented more than 300 fewer receiving unemployment benefits than in September. Statewide, almost 10,000 fewer Alabamians were unemployed in October, according to the state Department of Industrial Relations. It was the fourth consecutive month Alabama’s unemploy-
ment rate has decreased.
“The drop in Alabama’s unemployment rate is certainly good news for our state,” Bentley said. “While we are still a long way from reaching full employment, October’s decline shows positive momentum for our state as we continue our mission to put Alabamians back to work.”
Employment increased in October by 9,700, with the majority of the gains coming from the trade, transportation and utilities sector, the government sector and the professional and business services sector.
“We are continuing to notice positive signs in our economic recovery,” said Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees. “Our initial unemployment claims are lower than they have been over the past four years, as is the amount of our benefit payments.”