While the state unemployment rate stayed the same, the jobless rate in Dallas County rose slightly in January.

Dallas County’s unemployment rate at the end of January was 9.4 percent, which is the tenth highest of any county in the state. That number is four tenths higher than the rate for December 2015, when the unemployment rate was 9 percent.

Although the numbers have increased in recent months, the unemployment rate in the past year has still decreased from 10.3 percent this time last year.

Gov. Robert Bentley was encouraged by the statewide numbers released Monday, March 14.

“The momentum that we are seeing in our employment numbers continues to be encouraging,” Bentley said. “Our mission to provide all Alabamians with a job remains my top priority.”

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald Washington echoed Bentley’s message that the lack of change in the unemployment rate from December 2015 to January was positive.

“No change in the unemployment rate is good news this month,” Washington said. “We continue to see high numbers of employed people, which again is topping two million.”

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates in the state are Shelby County (4.5), Lee County (5.3) and Elmore County (5.3).

Wilcox County has the highest unemployment rate in Alabama at 16 percent. The other two counties with the highest unemployment rates in the state are Clarke County (12.4) and Lowndes County (12.0).

The state of Alabama has employed over two million people for 21 straight months.

“The growth that we are consistently seeing, combined with the regular announcements of new jobs coming to the state, is helping us to achieve that goal,” Bentley said.