Morgan County’s unemployment rate increased from 9.3 percent in August to 9.4 percent in September, according to the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations.

Currently, there are 5,281 people who are unemployed in Morgan County, which is slightly up from 5,254 in August. However, there were only 5,037 unemployed persons in September 2010 for a rate of 9.0 percent.

The number of employed persons also decreased to 50,939 in September from 51,231 in August, but it’s up from 50,864 in September 2010.

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Press Release from Alabama Department of Industrial Relations

The Decatur metropolitan area also saw an increase in unemployed persons by 0.1 percent to 9.7 percent in September. There are still 6,981 without a job in the area, and the number of employed persons decreased nearly 400.

Statewide, unemployment decreased 0.1 percent to 9.8 percent in September. September’s rate represents 211,079 unemployed persons, down from 213,222 in August.

“In September we saw some positive indicators,” said Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees. “For the first time in seven months, we are able to report a decline in the number of initial unemployment compensation claims. In addition, the number of benefits being paid out is at the lowest we’ve seen since October 2008.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rate were: Shelby at 6.8 percent, Coffee at 7.5 percent and Lee at 7.9 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wilcox at 21.5 percent, Perry at 18.2 percent and Dallas at 18.0 percent.