Lee County posts third lowest unemployment rate in the state

Gov. Robert Bentley issued a press release on May 18 announcing that Alabama's unemployment rate has dropped to 7.2 percent, the lowest unemployment rate seen in the state since November 2008, before the recession.

Lee County was listed as having the third lowest rate in the state with a 5.6 percent unemployment rate behind Shelby County at 4.6 and Coffee County at 5.3.

Wage and salary employment in the state has increased by 8,500 jobs over the past month with tourism and the automotive industry seeing the largest increases, according to the release.

"Just yesterday, we announced Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama will be expanding its production facility in Huntsville," said Bentley in the release. "We have also seen many other exciting developments across the state that are leading to new jobs for Alabamians."

A similar situation is occurring in Lee County as the unemployment rate is expected to decline even more in the coming year with the addition of Auburn Technology Park West, according to Auburn City Manager Charlie Duggan.

"We have our third technology park underway with GE and SiO2 and some other companies located there, so it's really been a concerted effort to make sure the infrastructure is in place ... and that there are quality jobs for people," Duggan said.

GE is expected to offer Lee County 300-400 jobs and SiO2, a pharmaceutical company, is expected to create another 300.

Auburn Mayor Bill Ham Jr. agreed, saying that the county's effort in creating and seeking new jobs has paid off this year.

"There are a lot of factors, but obviously available jobs, particularly here in Lee County," Ham said. "In the last seven months we've had a lot of very good announcements, rankings, and expansions in all parts (of the county)."

For comparison, Duggan recalled the job market in Lee County in the 80s as having numerous low-wage service industry jobs that were serviceable for a college student, but couldn't provide for a career or support a family.

Now, he said, the quality of jobs is as important as how many people have them.

"It comes down to years of economic development efforts focused by certainly our city council making sure that people have, not just a job, but decent paying jobs," Duggan said.

Duggan also attributes the improvement over the past few years to the educational system saying that from kindergarten to college students in the county are groomed for success.

The Alabama unemployment rate is down 2.1 percent from its 9.2 mark in May 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The national unemployment rate is slightly higher at 8.1 percent, however this remains a decrease from the 9 percent rate from this time last year.

In the release, Bentley suggested that this might be a sign that the recession is slowly ending and that "many areas of the economy are improving."

Ham also hopes that the economic signs he's seeing are pointing out of the economic crisis.

"I've seen a lot of indicators, new home sales picking up, home sales in general picking up, our sales tax numbers are continuously increasing so I'm certainly hopeful that at least the worst is over," Ham said.

As for Duggan, he's looking to the past and hoping not to repeat it in the future.

"We certainly hope (the recession's ending)," he said. "Sometime last year we're hoping that things really did hit the bottom and that we're now in an upward swing towards more employment in the future."Andrew Yawn

Community Editor

Gov. Robert Bentley issued a press release on May 18 announcing that Alabama's unemployment rate has dropped to 7.2 percent, the lowest unemployment rate seen in the state since November 2008, before the recession.

Lee County was listed as having the third lowest rate in the state with a 5.6 percent unemployment rate behind Shelby County at 4.6 and Coffee County at 5.3.

Wage and salary employment in the state has increased by 8,500 jobs over the past month with tourism and the automotive industry seeing the largest increases, according to the release.

"Just yesterday, we announced Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama will be expanding its production facility in Huntsville," said Bentley in the release. "We have also seen many other exciting developments across the state that are leading to new jobs for Alabamians."

A similar situation is occurring in Lee County as the unemployment rate is expected to decline even more in the coming year with the addition of Auburn Technology Park West, according to Auburn City Manager Charlie Duggan.

"We have our third technology park underway with GE and SiO2 and some other companies located there, so it's really been a concerted effort to make sure the infrastructure is in place ... and that there are quality jobs for people," Duggan said.

GE is expected to offer Lee County 300-400 jobs and SiO2, a pharmaceutical company, is expected to create another 300.

Auburn Mayor Bill Ham Jr. agreed, saying that the county's effort in creating and seeking new jobs has paid off this year.

"There are a lot of factors, but obviously available jobs, particularly here in Lee County," Ham said. "In the last seven months we've had a lot of very good announcements, rankings, and expansions in all parts (of the county)."

For comparison, Duggan recalled the job market in Lee County in the 80s as having numerous low-wage service industry jobs that were serviceable for a college student, but couldn't provide for a career or support a family.

Now, he said, the quality of jobs is as important as how many people have them.

"It comes down to years of economic development efforts focused by certainly our city council making sure that people have, not just a job, but decent paying jobs," Duggan said.

Duggan also attributes the improvement over the past few years to the educational system saying that from kindergarten to college students in the county are groomed for success.

The Alabama unemployment rate is down 2.1 percent from its 9.2 mark in May 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The national unemployment rate is slightly higher at 8.1 percent, however this remains a decrease from the 9 percent rate from this time last year.

In the release, Bentley suggested that this might be a sign that the recession is slowly ending and that "many areas of the economy are improving."

Ham also hopes that the economic signs he's seeing are pointing out of the economic crisis.

"I've seen a lot of indicators, new home sales picking up, home sales in general picking up, our sales tax numbers are continuously increasing so I'm certainly hopeful that at least the worst is over," Ham said.

As for Duggan, he's looking to the past and hoping not to repeat it in the future.

"We certainly hope (the recession's ending)," he said. "Sometime last year we're hoping that things really did hit the bottom and that we're now in an upward swing towards more employment in the future."