Tuscaloosa Metro Unemployment Improves In October

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Unemployment numbers for west Alabama counties trended in the right direction from September into October, according to preliminary data released Friday by the Alabama Department of Labor.

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Unemployment rates across the Tuscaloosa Patch coverage area saw sustained improvement, including Tuscaloosa County. However, the county reported a workforce of 98,595 in October, which is down slightly from 98,650 the previous month. Conversely, the number of those classified as unemployed in Tuscaloosa County fell to 6,157 last month, compared to 7,390 people out of work in September.

For the Tuscaloosa metropolitan area, which includes municipalities as well as county residents, its unemployment rate fell by a full percentage point to 6.1% from September to October. As for those out of work in the metro, the Alabama Department of Labor reported the area's jobless totals decreasing by 1,377 in October, providing a positive sign in terms of economic improvement amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In looking at municipalities, the city of Tuscaloosa's unemployment rate fell more than a full percentage point from 8.6% in September to 7.1% in October. As it stands, the state labor department reports 3,451 city residents currently out of work, which is down from 4,218 in September.

The city of Northport also saw its unemployment rate improve to 4.7% in October — down from 5.5% in September, with 639 residents currently out of a job or receiving unemployment benefits.

Local improvements also followed state and national trends as Alabama's preliminary, seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate came in at 5.8%, down from September’s revised rate of 6.7%, but still substantially higher than the 2.7% unemployment reported in October 2019.

The Alabama Department of Labor also reported that October’s statewide unemployment rate represents 130,329 unemployed people, compared to 153,338 in September and 61,210 in October 2019.

As uncertainty persists for local businesses facing the pandemic, Patch reported Wednesday when Gov. Kay Ivey announced a second wave of CARES Act funding for small businesses, non-profits and faith-based organizations, totaling $200 million and dubbed the "Revive Plus" grant.

Ivey also stated this week that she has no plans to close Alabama businesses amid the rise in coronavirus cases.

Here is a breakdown of preliminary county unemployment rates in the Tuscaloosa Patch coverage area, provided by the Alabama Department of Labor.

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