December 2018 unemployment numbers show unemployment at 963 (6.6 percent) for Dallas County, according to the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL).

This number in December 2018 increased from November 2018, which was at 863 or 5.8 percent.

Comparing December 2018 to December 2017, the ADOL report shows that 2017’s numbers were at 821 or 5.7 percent.

Selma City saw an increase in December 2018’s unemployment numbers with a 7.9 percent scoring.

In November 2018, Selma city was at 6.5 percent unemployment and in December 2017, the unemployment rate was at 6.4 percent.

Overall, Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 3.9 percent in December, was down from November’s revised rate of 4 percent and is above the 3.8 percent year-ago rate.

The national rate at 3.9 percent in December, was up from November’s revised rate of 3.7, but below the year-ago rate of 4.1 percent. Nonagricultural Wage and Salary employment totaled 2,072,600 in December, which represented an over the month increase of 4,000 jobs. Employment increased in manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; other services; and information. Over the year, there was a gain of 44,300 jobs that occurred in all industries. For production workers, the average manufacturing weekly hours increased by 12 minutes over the month and rose by 24 minutes over the year.

Goods Producing employment grew by 2,800 jobs in December due to manufacturing. The number of jobs increased over the year by 15,200 due to growth in all goods producing industries. The Durable Goods employment level increased by 2,100 jobs over the month mainly due to transportation equipment manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing, wood product manufacturing, primary metal manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, computer and electronic product manufacturing, in addition to furniture and related product manufacturing. Over the year, employment rose by 7,300 jobs due to transportation equipment manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing, wood product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and primary metal manufacturing areas. In Non-Durable Goods, employment grew by 900 jobs over the month. Over the year, the employment level increased by 4,000 due to plastics and rubber products manufacturing, paper manufacturing, textile mills, and food manufacturing.

The Service-Providing sectors rose by 1,200 jobs over the month and this increase was due to trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; other services; and information. Annually, Service-Providing sectors added 29,100 jobs and the gains occurred in all service areas.

Total private employment grew by 3,300 jobs over the month to total 1,680,300. Over the year, employment gained 39,300 jobs. Average weekly hours grew by 30 minutes over the month, and 36 minutes over the year. Average weekly earnings, at $857.77 in December, increased by $17.28 over the month and rose by $46.41 over the year. Average hourly earnings, at $23.96 in December, grew by 15 cents over the month and rose by 91 cents over the year.