Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey joined AGCO employees in boosting the “Made in Alabama” initiative Wednesday, as AGCO showed off its newly-expanded production facility at Bremen.

Alabama’s employment figures continue to show an accelerating economy as a record number of state residents counted as working in March.

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington released figures Friday showing 2,132,578 people were counted as employed in March, up from 2,127,676 in February, and up 28,953 from March 2018’s count of 2,103,625. March’s rate represents 82,368 unemployed persons, compared to 82,247 in February and 88,723 in March 2018.

“Once again, we’ve shattered employment records in Alabama,” Washington said. “More people are working now than ever before in Alabama’s history. Employers are continuing to post jobs, companies are moving operations, and our existing businesses are expanding, all of which is great news for Alabamians.”

Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted March unemployment rate is 3.7 percent, unchanged from February and remaining at a record low, and well below March 2018’s rate of 4 percent. Cullman County’s unemployment rose slightly to 3.4 percent, but an expansion last week and others expected this year should push the area’s rate down, Cullman County Economic Development Agency Director Dale Greer said.

Cullman County has been as low as 2.7 percent, but still has the state’s sixth lowest rate.

“Even the fact we changed a little bit, there are excellent opportunities here and more are coming. These are jobs with benefits and opportunities to grow,” Greer said. “This reflects well on our community. As economic developer, I can tell you there is more coming for our area.”

Washington said the state is seeing an increase in wages, building construction and manufacturing.

“We’re seeing great growth in some of our high wage sectors as well,” Washington said. “Building construction employment has increased by nearly 11 percent over the year, and aerospace parts and manufacturing is right behind it with more than 10 percent growth.”

Building construction employment increased to 21,200 in March, representing a yearly growth of 10.99 percent, while aerospace products and parts manufacturing employment increased to 13,100, representing a yearly growth of 10.08 percent.

Wage and salary employment increased over the year by 33,200. Sectors showing the most over-the-year growth were: leisure and hospitality (+5,900), professional and business services (+5,600), and manufacturing (+4,700), among others.

Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+3,400), the construction sector (+2,500), and the professional and business services sector (+2,000), among others.

Additionally, construction sector weekly earnings showed tremendous growth over-the-month, rising to a record high of $1,010.21, representing a $61.39 increase from February, and marking the first time in history this sector’s average earnings exceeded $1,000.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.8 percent, Marshall County at 3.2 percent, and Morgan, Madison, and Elmore counties at 3.3 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 8.4 percent, Lowndes County at 6.7 percent, and Clarke County at 6.5 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Homewood and Northport at 2.6 percent, Hoover and Vestavia Hills at 2.7 percent, and Alabaster at 2.8 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 7.5 percent, Prichard at 6.1 percent, and Anniston at 5.3 percent.