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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The unemployment rate for Chilton County remained almost the same in May compared to April.

Unemployment rose slightly to 2.5% in May compared to 2.4% in April.

Chilton County continues to have an unemployment rate lower than the state average, which was 3.4% in May.

However, the state rate was a decrease from the 3.6% unemployment rate in April.

“Our record-breaking streak is continuing in May, and we hope that it continues throughout the rest of the year,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a press release. “Yet again, we’ve dropped our unemployment rate and each month we are getting closer and closer to our pre-pandemic record low unemployment rate of 2.6%. Our economy is adding jobs, and earlier barriers to joining the workforce have been significantly reduced. In fact, there are more job postings than there are people counted as unemployed! Alabama is, once again, open for business.”

Employment in leisure and hospitality related industries continued to increase in the state. Increases were also seen transportation, health and education fields.

Wages in the state also showed an increase.

“As we continue to see improvement in nearly all sectors of the economy, we’re also seeing record high wages in Alabama,” said Washington. “Once again, our average weekly wages are at new record high, representing an almost $67 per week over-the-year increase. Both the leisure and hospitality and manufacturing sectors are showing record high wages as well, with significant yearly increases. The economy is responding as we expected to labor force fluctuations brought about by the pandemic.”

Overall, private sector weekly earnings rose to $974.12.