Chilton County’s unemployment rate rose in November, leaving more residents without jobs during the holiday season.

The county’s jobless rate went up to 8.9 percent in November, an increase from October’s 8.8 percent. That number equates to 1,701 Chilton County residents looking for work.

The county’s numbers follow the state’s trend closely. Alabama’s total unemployment also increased a tenth of a percent, from 8.9 percent to 9 percent.

“We saw a small increase, but our unemployment rate continues to be well below the national average…” said Tom Surtees, Alabama Department of Industrial Relations director.

The national rate for November was 9.8 percent, up from October’s national rate of 9.6 percent.

The numbers are considerably better than the same month in 2009, when Chilton County’s unemployment stood at 10.1 percent and Alabama’s at 10.9 percent.

The counties with the lowest unemployment in Alabama were: Shelby at 6.7 percent, Coffee at 7.0 percent and Madison at 7.1 percent.

The counties with the highest unemployment were Wilcox at 20.7 percent, Greene at 18.3 percent and Dallas at 16.8 percent.