Counties with the highest unemployment in Alabama

While today’s unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.

Experts are mixed in their views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession. The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.

But as of November 2023, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.7%—down slightly from the previous month, and about the same as last year. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 1.8% in Maryland to 5.4% in Nevada.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Alabama using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2023, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

JNix // Shutterstock

#50. Coosa County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,638 people (106 unemployed)

Canva

#49. Geneva County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 11,637 people (272 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#48. Chambers County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: No change
– Total labor force: 16,192 people (374 unemployed)

George Dodd III // Shutterstock

#47. Baldwin County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 105,387 people (2,421 unemployed)

Tracy Burroughs Brown // Shutterstock

#46. Tuscaloosa County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 107,261 people (2,429 unemployed)

Canva

#45. Tallapoosa County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: No change
– Total labor force: 17,387 people (410 unemployed)

Canva

#44. Jefferson County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 329,453 people (7,978 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#43. Clay County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,098 people (155 unemployed)

Canva

#42. Bibb County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,918 people (220 unemployed)

Canva

#41. Dale County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 21,404 people (525 unemployed)

Carl Banks Photography // Shutterstock

#40. Jackson County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 23,736 people (600 unemployed)

Canva

#39. Walker County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 26,056 people (663 unemployed)

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#38. Lauderdale County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 43,289 people (1,068 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#37. Washington County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,404 people (245 unemployed)

Thomas Burks // Shutterstock

#36. Randolph County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,788 people (251 unemployed)

Shackleford Photography // Shutterstock

#35. Cherokee County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 11,989 people (306 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#34. Pike County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 16,440 people (435 unemployed)

Canva

#33. Coffee County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 21,924 people (563 unemployed)

Canva

#32. Houston County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 49,183 people (1,260 unemployed)

Canva

#31. Crenshaw County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,386 people (171 unemployed)

Canva

#30. Henry County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,246 people (194 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#29. Butler County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,939 people (241 unemployed)

Canva

#28. Winston County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,806 people (269 unemployed)

Jennifer Kinkead McNutt // Shutterstock

#27. Marion County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 13,799 people (369 unemployed)

Canva

#26. Covington County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 15,092 people (412 unemployed)

Mccallk69 // Shutterstock

#25. Macon County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,064 people (227 unemployed)

John H. Davis // Shutterstock

#24. Russell County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 24,572 people (678 unemployed)

Canva

#23. Talladega County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 37,797 people (1,041 unemployed)

Canva

#22. Etowah County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 39,840 people (1,127 unemployed)

EWY Media // Shutterstock

#21. Calhoun County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 46,975 people (1,317 unemployed)

Canva

#20. Montgomery County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 108,193 people (2,987 unemployed)

Canva

#19. Lamar County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 5,816 people (169 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#18. Pickens County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,997 people (229 unemployed)

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#17. Colbert County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 24,076 people (706 unemployed)

Leah G Moloney // Shutterstock

#16. Hale County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,216 people (188 unemployed)

Canva

#15. Escambia County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: No change
– Total labor force: 14,543 people (435 unemployed)

Canva

#14. Mobile County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 197,681 people (6,155 unemployed)

Canva

#13. Fayette County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,766 people (214 unemployed)

Canva

#12. Marengo County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,675 people (243 unemployed)

Canva

#11. Sumter County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,752 people (171 unemployed)

Canva

#10. Conecuh County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,241 people (167 unemployed)

Canva

#9. Choctaw County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,274 people (180 unemployed)

JNix // Shutterstock

#8. Barbour County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,046 people (335 unemployed)

Canva

#7. Monroe County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,019 people (314 unemployed)

Canva

#6. Greene County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,832 people (131 unemployed)

Canva

#5. Clarke County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 7,582 people (359 unemployed)

Carolyn May Wright // Shutterstock

#4. Lowndes County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 3,558 people (174 unemployed)

Canva

#3. Perry County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 3,079 people (155 unemployed)

Canva

#2. Dallas County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
— 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 13,710 people (747 unemployed)

Canva

#1. Wilcox County

– November unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.0%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,557 people (204 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.