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Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 3 percent in November 2019, down 0.8 percent from last year, according to the Alabama Department of Labor.

The unemployment rate was the same as October’s, and is 0.3 percent higher than the state’s rate of 2.7 percent.

For Escambia County, 14,560 were in the civilian labor force.

“For seven months in a row now, we have announced record-breaking jobs numbers in Alabama,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “We are consistently seeing yearly drops that are the highest in the nation. Our jobs count continues to break records and beat expectations. More than 80,000 Alabamians are working today that weren’t last year. All this data combines to paint a picture of economic health in Alabama. We have one more month to report on for 2019, but it’s certainly shaping up to be a banner year!”

November’s rate represents 2,203,495 employed persons, a new record high, and represents an over-the-year increase of 82,609. 61,963 people were counted as unemployed, a new record low, down from 83,298 in November 2018. The civilian labor force also reached a new record high of 2,265,458, representing an over-the-year increase of 61,274.

“The number of jobs our economy is supporting is, yet again, at a record high. We’ve seen a gain of more than 50,000 jobs since this time last year,” said Washington. “Our job growth rate in November is the highest it’s been all year, and we’ve once again surpassed the national job growth rate.”

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 50,400, with gains in the professional and business services sector (+14,900), the leisure and hospitality sector (+8,800), the government sector (+6,900), and the manufacturing sector (+4,900), among others.

Wage and salary employment grew in November by 9,100. Monthly gains were seen in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+5,500), the government sector (+3,800), and the education and health services sector (+900), among others.

“Manufacturing employment in Alabama is at its highest level in 11 years,” continued Washington. “Other sectors are currently experiencing their highest levels of employment in history. Employers are hiring, and people are finding work.”