Chilton County’s unemployment rate was unchanged from September to October, staying at 8.8 percent.

Statewide, Alabama’s jobless rate remained the same too at 8.9 percent. These numbers are below the national average of 9.6 percent and well below last year’s state rate of 10.8 percent.

October’s figure represents 189,358 unemployed workers statewide and 1,683 in Chilton County.

“For nine consecutive months, we have been able to announce that Alabama hasn’t seen an increase in its monthly unemployment rate,” said Tom Surtees, director of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. “That is certainly a statistic that makes us happy.”

“The Department is continuing to pay less in benefits, and initial claims remain below 2009 and 2009 levels. These are all positive signs for Alabama’s economic recovery.

Shelby County had the lowest unemployment at 6.8 percent. Wilcox County had the highest jobless rate at 20.1 percent.