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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Unemployment information that was released on May 20 shows a decrease for both Chilton County and the state.

Chilton County had an unemployment rate of 1.8% in April, meaning 19,686 people of the 20,038 people in the civilian work force were employed.

The state as a whole also saw an increase in employment with the unemployment for April going down to the historic low of 2.8%.

“I am thrilled that after 202 years of trying, Alabama has once again reached a new record low unemployment rate, and this forward momentum is only continuing. The people of Alabama want to work, plain and simple, and that combined with our efforts helped us reach the lowest unemployment rate in our state’s history, yet again,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a press release. “We have more people working today than at any other point in our state’s history. We are shattering record after record, and we’re just getting started!”

Weekly wages also had a record increase to $990.46. According to ADOL information, this is a $21.12 from April of 2021.

“I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen a jobs report with this many positives,” said Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “This is great news for Alabama’s economy and especially for our coastal region as we move into the prime tourist season. On top of the other records, we’ve also increased wages to a new record high, with average weekly wages gaining over $21 dollars over-the-year. Additionally, the leisure and hospitality sector set yet another record for weekly wages, with a yearly increase of more than $28.”