By Staff
From staff reports
Escambia County’s unemployment rate inched up slightly in May and remains nearly double lasts year’s rate — but is below the rate of nearby counties.
According to Alabama Department of Industrial Relations statistics, Escambia County posted an 11.6 percent unemployment rate in May, up from 11.1 the previous month and 6.3 in May 2008.
The rate represents 1,683 people unemployed in the county’s labor force.
Some small layoffs have occurred among industries in the county, and Citation Corp. is rumored to have laid off about 100 people in two rounds this year. Company officials have refused to comment on the rumors.
Some Escambia County residents were also employed at industries in Monroe and Conecuh counties, both of which have seen major layoffs and plant closures in recent months.
The other four counties who are part of the Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Authority have higher unemployment rates than Ecambia County, with Monroe’s reaching 16.7 percent in May and Conecuh County’s reaching 16.1 percent in May.
Clarke County has a jobless rate of 14.1 percent, and Choctaw County has a jobless rate of 11.8 percent.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 9.8 percent.