Unemployment increased in Dallas County from May to June, going from 6.6 percent to 9.3 percent.

The number is still better than the June 2016 number of 10.9 percent and represents 1,441 people out of work.

Across the state, unemployment fell in June from 4.9 percent to 4.6 percent, which was down from June 2016’s rate of 5.8 percent.

Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced the numbers last week.

June’s rate represents 100,376 unemployed persons, compared to 107,223 in May and 125,000 in June 2016.

“Alabama’s unemployment continues to drop, and our economy continues to add jobs.  As of now, we are only two-tenths of a percentage point away from catching up to the national unemployment rate,” said Gov. Kay Ivey.  “Even though our numbers are improving, I continue to pledge to work even harder to make sure that any Alabamian who wants a job can find one.”

For the third consecutive month, the state’s total unemployment has topped two million jobs.

“This has been a milestone we’ve strived to reach for years and is an excellent indicator of economic health,” Washington said.  “We’ve added 46,100 private sector jobs since January, and our over the year job growth rate was 1.8 percent, the highest it’s been in 11 years!”

Wage and salary employment increased in June by 6,000 to 2,016,400.  Monthly gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (+6,000), the other services sector (+1,200), and the professional and business services sector (+1,000), among others.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 3.8 percent, Elmore, Cullman and Baldwin counties at 4.3 percent, and Marshall County at 4.5 percent.  Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 13.5 percent, Clarke County at 10.6 percent, and Perry County at 10.2 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 3.2 percent, Hoover at 3.6 percent and Homewood at 3.7 percent.  Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Prichard and Selma at 10.1 percent and Anniston at 7 Percent.

and Mobile and Bessemer at 6.5 percent.