Calhoun County's unemployment rate for March fell by a half point from April. The statewide rate and those for other local counties fell, as well.
According to the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, the county’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.6 percent in March from 8.1 percent in February. The March rate is significantly lower than the 9.2 percent rate recorded in March of last year.
The county made strides in lowering its unemployment rate due to job gains in the retail, business services and leisure industries.
The statewide unemployment rate decreased slightly to 7.3 percent in March from 7.5 percent in February. The last time Alabama’s unemployment rate was at 7.3 percent was in December of 2008. The March national average unemployment rate is 8.2 percent.
