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January 4, 2010

County unemployment declines

Drops from 9.7 percent to 9.4 percent

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — Bucking a trend that has lasted more than two years, the unemployment rate for Cullman County declined in the month of November, dropping from 9.7 percent to 9.4 percent. The rate had previously been holding steady at 9.7 percent.

Though the drop can be viewed as encouraging, year-to-date the local unemployment rate has steadily increased from 5.1 percent in November 2008.

State unemployment dropped slightly from the highest rate in 25 years, moving down to 10.3 percent from 10.7 percent in October. This is the first time the rate has dropped statewide in 27 months, dating back to September 2007.

Cullman Economic Development Assistant Director Dale Greer said it is great to see the rate finally begin to decrease.

“You definitely like to think it’s a good sign,” he said. “A lot of economic forecasters are saying things are beginning to pick back up.”

Though the decline is a move in the right direction, Greer said there is still a long road ahead before we will see a full economic recovery.

“Unemployment is still high, but maybe that’s a trend that will bode well for us,” he said. “A few local companies are beginning to call people back and are calling back some temporary employees. It isn’t quite at the rate the layoffs were, but it is something.”

The new statewide unemployment rate represents approximately 217,350 people out of work, down from 226,466 in October.

When compared to surrounding counties, Cullman remained near or below the local average. Winston County posted 17.9 percent, Walker County had 12.2 percent, Morgan County had 10.1 percent, Blount County had 9.2 percent and Marshall County had 9.3 percent.

Statewide, Shelby County and Madison County posted the lowest unemployment rate at 7.3 percent, with Wilcox County maintaining the highest with 24.3 percent.

More information about unemployment benefits can be found at the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Web site (http://dir.alabama.gov/uc).

Job listings with the Alabama Career Center, located at the Wallace State Community College banquet hall, can be found at the center’s Web site (https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada).



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

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