Alabama employment increases by 24,300 jobs, unemployment rate rises slightly - WVUA 23

Alabama added 24,300 jobs over the past year, while the state’s unemployment rate increased slightly in September, according to the Alabama Department of Workforce. The state’s unemployment rate rose to 3.5% in September, up from 3.4% in August and 2.8% in September 2025. Alabama’s prime-age labor force participation rate increased to 79.5%, compared to 78.4% A year ago. The rate measures workforce participation among people ages 25 to 54. Wage and salary employment reached 2.2 million, with the largest gains in leisure and hospitality, private education and health services, and professional and business services. In West Alabama, Greene County recorded one of the state‘s highest unemployment rates at 6.