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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The most recent unemployment numbers for Chilton County show a decrease in unemployment.

The percentage of those unemployed in Chilton County in February was 2.9%, the lowest it has been in several months. This is down from the January rate of 3.2%.

For the state, unemployment reached the lowest level it had been since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

“The unemployment rate continues to drop and is getting closer to the lows we enjoyed pre-pandemic,” Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald said. “While this is good news, the number of unemployed people is still higher than last year. Employment assistance is the key to helping reduce this number and the Alabama Career Center System can help. There are 52 locations around the state that can help the unemployed and the underemployed.”

This a decrease from January’s rate of 4.3% for the state.

In February 2020 before COVID-19 restrictions were put in place, the unemployment rate for the state had been 2.6%.

According to the Alabama Department of Labor, “Wage and salary employment increased in February by 14,500. The biggest monthly gains were seen in leisure and hospitality (+4,600), professional and business services (+3,300); and government (+3,000), among others.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates for February were Shelby County at 2.1%, Blount and Cullman counties at 2.2%, and Franklin and Limestone counties at 2.3%.