Tuscaloosa County Unemployment Rate Lowest In Region

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The unemployment rate in Tuscaloosa County for January was the lowest in the west Alabama region and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, according to preliminary data published Monday by the Alabama Department of Labor.

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The department reported unemployment in Tuscaloosa County to be at 2.3% for January, with a total of 2,418 individuals out of work or currently seeking employment. This is lower than the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.6%.

While the spike in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased to record lows, wages have remained stagnant in recent months. However, state officials say things are on the upswing.

“Additionally, we’re continuing to see positive increases in our wages, meaning more money in Alabamians’ pockets,” Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said. “This month, we reached one of our highest average weekly wages in history.”

Shelby County led the state with the lowest unemployment rate at 1.8%, while Wilcox County posted the highest at 8.8%.

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