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Escambia County’s seasonally adjusted August 2021 unemployment rate is 4.1 percent, according to the Alabama Department of Labor.

According to the DOL, the state’s unemployment rate ticked downward in August to 3.1 percent, a 0.1 percent decrease from July.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced the state’s unemployment rate on Sept. 17.

“Alabama continues our streak of dropping unemployment, getting more of our people back to work and able to provide for their families, and we are seeing our jobs count and wages consistently rise,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a written statement this morning. “Employers in Alabama have jobs to fill, and they’re doing so at a good pace. We’re proud of the progress Alabama is making as we continue to overcome the challenges we faced due to the pandemic. Alabama is working again, and we know our work is not done yet.”

Over the past year, wage and salary employment increased 54,200, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (plus 20,700), the manufacturing sector (plus 10,300), and the professional and business services sector (plus 7,300), among others.

Over the month, wage and salary employment increased in August by 1,500. Monthly gains were seen in the government sector (plus 7,100), the professional and business services sector (plus 3,400), and the financial activities sector (plus 400), among others.

“We are working hard every day to reach out to those employers who still need assistance in finding employees, while at the same time working to reach those who are still looking for work, or those who are looking to advance their careers,” said Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “Right now is a great time to search for a job, as wages have once again hit a new record high in Alabama. Both employers and jobseekers can obtain free services by visiting any of our local career centers. We’re here to help in any way we can.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates include Shelby County at 2.1 percent, Cullman County at 2.3 percent, and Marshall, Limestone, and Blount Counties at 2.4 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates include Wilcox County at 11.1 percent, Lowndes County at 9.2 percent and Perry County at 9 percent.