Chilton unemployment hits 2% as employment rises
Chilton County jobless rate drops to 2%, among Alabama’s lowest, as more residents join the workforce and statewide employment hits record levels.
By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor
Local Area Unemployment Statistics have been released for December 2025 by the Alabama Department of Workforce in its last month to catch up following the federal government shutdown.
Unemployment information was not collected for the month of October 2025 due to the federal government shutdown. No data is available for October 2025, including civilian labor force, the number of people employed, the number of people unemployed and the unemployment rate. December 2025 data marks the latest data released by the Alabama Department of Workforce.
“Alabama continues to lead the nation with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country,” Greg Reed, Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary, said. “More and more people are entering our workforce and they are finding good, meaningful employment. I’m proud of Alabama’s achievements and hope to continue making strides in the year ahead.”
Chilton County sits in the third-lowest group in the state at a 2% unemployment rate, joined by Autauga, Cleburne, DeKalb, Lawrence and Lee Counties. Counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Elmore and Shelby Counties coming in at 1.8%. Blount, Chambers, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan and St. Clair Counties come in right behind them at 1.9%.
Chilton County’s unemployment rate of 2% is lower than November 2025’s rate of 2.3% and December 2024’s rate of 2.8%. Those rates present 401 unemployed persons in Chilton County in December 2025, 472 in November 2025 and 572 in December 2024.
While the unemployment rate went down, the number of people counted as employed in the county rose to 19,953 in December 2025, up from 19,847 in November 2025 and 19,607 in December 2024. Also, the civilian labor force in Chilton County rose to 20,354 in December 2025, up from 20,319 in November 2025. It also increased from December 2024’s number of 20,179.
Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2025 held steady at 2.7% — the same as November 2025’s rate. The December 2025 rate is significantly lower than December 2024’s rate of 3.3%. These rates represent 64,150 unemployed persons in Alabama in December 2025, 65,264 in November 2025 and 78,478 in December 2024.
Alabama’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate sits lower at 2.3%. Both rates are lower than the United States’ unemployment rates which sit at 4.1% not seasonally adjusted, and 4.4% seasonally adjusted.
“As we continue to grow jobs in Alabama, wages are also increasing,” continued Reed. “For example, the construction sector saw a new record high in wages this month. When construction wages increase, that signals positive economic growth, with each construction dollar spent generating an additional $2-$3 in related economic activity.”
The number of people counted as employed in the state increased by 35,819 over the year to a new record high of 2,317,206 employed persons in Alabama. The civilian labor force also increased with 21,491 more people joining, raising the number to 2,381,356 persons.
