By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor
Multiple all-time highs for employment in the State of Alabama were achieved in December 2023 after statistics from the Alabama Department of Labor were released on Jan. 19.
The number of people counted as employed in the state increased by 40,194 in 2023 to a record high of 2,264,098. The civilian labor force in 2023 went up by 39,662, which increased it to a new record high of 2,323,552 as well.
Wage and salary employment increased by 38,100 in the state in 2023 to a record high of 2,184,500. The sectors gaining the most employees were private education and health services up 10,700 persons, government up 6,900 persons, and the trade, transportation and utilities sector up 4,600 persons.
The total private average weekly wage increased in December by $32.08 over the year to a new record high of $1,035.00. Average weekly wages in both the construction and trade, transportation, and utilities sectors reached new record highs as well.
All of the new all-time highs helped contribute to the state’s labor force participation rate for December increasing to 57.2%