Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.6% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which gained 1,700 roles, based on the most recently available information published in February 2022.
Total employment in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL market declined by 1,489 jobs in December and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 2.6%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 20 bps over the same time to 3.7%.
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL unemployment rate is 109 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 70 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in December versus prior month by 3.4% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.2%. Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 111,400; +1,700
- Government: 86,500; -300
- Education & Healthcare: 77,100; -1,200
- Business Services: 75,200; +100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 49,400; -800
- Financial Services: 42,400; -100
- Manufacturing: 38,700; -400
- Construction, Mining: 32,200; +200
- Other Jobs: 29,000; -100
- IT & Development: 8,300; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through December 2021 (Data published February 2022 and reports created on February 4, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.