Alabama’s streak of record-breaking unemployment continued for June as the state set five new records for its unemployment rate, jobs count, employment count, labor force and unemployment count.

Cullman County’s unemployment rate was lower than the state average at 3.1 percent, with 37,650 county residents employed out of a labor force of 38,842.

Cullman Economic Development Agency Director Dale Greer said just this week there were two new restaurants announced for Cullman, and there are a few local industries that have been discussing expanding their operations in the area, and that kind of growth can be seen across the state.

“It’s a great time in Alabama for job creation,” he said. 

The positive growth across the state can also have an impact on Cullman County, as one industry moving into an area can bring more with it, he said.

With North Alabama seeing more manufacturers moving into the area, there is a need for the manufacturer’s suppliers to be nearby as well, and some of those suppliers are looking at places like Cullman, Greer said.

“I think all of North Alabama is very, very busy,” he said.

June’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, setting a new record low, beating the previous record low of 3.7 percent. June’s rate represents 2,160,931 employed people, a new record high, and represents 10,456 more than last month’s count, and 48,952 more than in June 2018.

“It’s so exciting to be able to announce these great numbers month after month,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a press release. “It’s always positive to announce a new record low unemployment rate, but we also saw more people working than ever before, fewer unemployed than ever before, more people in the workforce than ever before, and finally, more jobs than ever before. These gains are momentous, and we certainly hope they continue as the year progresses.”

The civilian labor force, non active duty military, increased over the year by 39,099 to a record high 2,240,309.

The number of people counted as unemployed dropped to a new record low of 79,378, which represents a drop of 9,853 people from June 2018.

All 67 counties saw declines in their over-the-year unemployment rates, with drops ranging from half a percentage point to more than three percentage points. Wilcox County, which traditionally has the state’s highest unemployment rate, saw its rate drop by 3.4 percentage points to 7.3 percent, its third lowest rate.

“To put this in perspective, take a look at Wilcox County. During the recession, the county’s unemployment rate peaked at 31% in February 2010. Nearly one in three people in that county’s labor force were out of work. Now, they are at a near record low unemployment rate,” said Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 2.5 percent, Marshall County at 2.8 percent, and Baldwin County at 2.9 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 7.3 percent, Greene and Perry Counties at 6.8 percent, and Clarke County at 6.5 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 2.2 percent, Homewood at 2.3 percent, and Alabaster at 2.4 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 7.2 percent, Prichard at 6.6 percent, and Anniston at 4.9 percent.