Shelby County claims the lowest unemployment rate in Alabama and two of the state’s four best cities for employment in the latest figures released by the Alabama Department of Labor.

Alabama’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate for June was 4.1 percent, while Shelby County was at 3.7 percent, compared to 2.7 percent in May and 3.5 percent in June 2017.

The county’s rate represents a civilian labor force of 112,294 and 4,153 unemployed people.

Following Shelby County were Elmore, Cullman and Baldwin counties at 4.2 percent and Marshall County at 4.3 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rate were Wilcox County at 11.4 percent, Clarke County at 9.3 percent and Perry County at 9.2 percent.

Rates for counties surrounding Shelby were Jefferson at 4.7 percent, St. Clair at 4.4 percent, Talladega at 5.3 percent, Coosa at 5.2 percent, Chilton at 4.6 percent and Bibb at 4.9 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were Vestavia Hills at 3.3 percent, Alabaster at 3.5 percent and Hoover and Homewood at 3.6 percent.

Major cities with the highest unemployment rates were Prichard and Selma at 8.9 percent, Anniston at 6.7 percent and Bessemer at 6.4 percent.

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced that the number of people counted as working in Alabama has reached 2,098,377, a record high. Additionally, Alabama’s economy is supporting more jobs than ever before, with employers reporting 2,050,400 positions.

“More Alabamians are employed than we have ever seen,” said Washington. “More people are entering the workforce, optimistic that they will find work, and they are finding it. Employers are telling us that they are supporting more positions than ever before. Jobs are available in Alabama, and even more are being announced every day. Alabama is working!”

June employment data measures 2,098,377 employed persons, compared to 2,091,505 in May and 2,073,795 in June 2017. 89,353 people were counted as unemployed, up from 85,589 in and below 93,997 in June 2017.