By Staff
from staff reports
Alabama's unemployment rate for August dropped to 3.5 percent, its second lowest level since comparable records began being kept, said Governor Bob Riley.  
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has comparable data back only to 1976. Its lowest level - at 3.3 percent - was reached earlier this year in March.
The August rate of 3.5 percent is down from the 3.9 percent rate recorded in July.  Alabama's unemployment rate also continues to be lower than the nation's, which is 4.7 percent.
Employment grew from July to August by 16,375 and by 29,786 since August 2005.
The state's 3.5 percent rate represents 76,718 unemployed, compared to 85,177 unemployed a month earlier and 83,524 one year ago.