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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The unemployment rate in Chilton County in October decreased to 4.2%, according to the seasonally adjusted October unemployment rates the Alabama Department of Labor has released.

This is down from the September rate of 5.1%.

The state average unemployment rate also decreased in October from 6.7% in September to 5.8%.

“We’re glad to see nearly a drop of almost an entire percentage point in our unemployment rate this month,” said Fitzgerald Washington, Alabama Department of Labor secretary.  “We will continue to see fluctuations in these economic indicators as pandemic concerns remain, but this month showed growth in both the number of jobs we are supporting and the number of people who are working.”

Franklin and Cullman counties had the lowest unemployment in October at 3.2%. Lowndes and Wilcox counties had the highest unemployment rates at 14.9%,

“Wage and salary employment increased in October by 25,500.  Monthly gains were seen in the professional and business services sector (+9,300), the construction sector (+5,300), and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+3,400), among others.  Over the year, wage and salary employment decreased 51,500, with losses in the leisure and hospitality sector (-27,300), the education and health services sector (-17,000), and the government sector (-8,200), among others,” according to an Alabama Department of Labor press release.