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BBA Data Debrief – April 2025

Written By: Tatianna Turrentine-Long 

Each month, the Alabama Labor Market Information (LMI) newsletter provides data and analysis on the workforce, including labor force participation rates, unemployment rates and employment trends on a statewide and regional level. In coordination with the LMI, the Birmingham Business Alliance’s (BBA) Data Debrief explains the LMI data for the previous month, highlighting changes in our regional labor market and providing essential insights.

The key points for the LMI Newsletter of April 2025, as explained by BBA Market Intelligence Manager Tatianna Turrentine-Long, are as follows:

Key Point #1. Alabama experienced a significant drop in unemployment between March (3.4%) and April (2.7%), with a .7% drop month-to-month, and a slight increase in labor force participation (58.4%). Last month, the labor force participation rate was one-tenth of a percentage point below this month’s rate. In comparison to April 2024, the labor force participation rate rose a full percentage point higher year-to-year. The United States unemployment rate continues to remain high at 3.9%, even with a slight decrease from last month’s report (4.4%).

Key Point #2. Some industries statewide experienced small increases in average weekly earnings, most notably Manufacturing, Trade and Utilities, Finance, and Leisure and Hospitality. For the Birmingham MSA specifically, the region has experienced a slight increase in employment (~+/- 2,000) and average weekly earnings (+/- $7.00) since March, with a nearly $100 increase year-to-year. 

Counties in the Birmingham region continue to maintain similar unemployment rates in comparison to the previous month: 

  • Jefferson (2.8%)
  • Walker (2.7%)
  • Bibb (2.5%)
  • Chilton (2.5%)
  • Blount (2.3%)
  •  St. Clair (2.2%)
  • Shelby County (2.1%)

Civilian labor force participation increased by nearly 3,000 workers since March 2025 and more than 10,000 since April 2024.  

Key Point #3. The Birmingham region has experienced an increase in net month-to-month job growth compared to last month’s report (2,300 in March 2025). The region has seen the most increase in employment in service-providing industries like Trade and Utilities, Retail, Finance, and Professional and Business Services. Despite the growth, the region is still lagging in year-over-year employment (2,700 in April 2024). 

Here is how the region performed in comparison to all other major MSAs in year-over-year employment: 

  • Anniston-Oxford (300 in April 2024, 200 in March 2025)
  • Auburn-Opelika (700 in April 2024, 300 in March 2025)
  • Decatur (1,500 in April 2024, 400 in March 2025)
  • Florence-Muscle Shoals (1,400 in April 2024, 300 in March 2025, Huntsville (7,500 in April 2024, 2,200 in March 2025)
  • Mobile (5,000 in April 2024, 1,500 in March 2025)
  • Montgomery (2,500 in April 2024, 900 in March 2025)
  • Tuscaloosa (200 in April 2024, 800 in March 2025)

In conclusion, the Greater Birmingham region and the state have seen improvements in employment and labor force participation. Jobs that are added to our communities via the investments made by local businesses contribute significantly to the state of our workforce. 

Our top priority at the BBA is to drive job creation, capital investment and build initiatives to cultivate a stronger workforce. In recent weeks, we hosted the BBA Small Business Week, where we celebrated the small businesses in our city and region through networking, educational and luncheon events. This week brought together small and mid-sized businesses that are growing and creating a diverse ecosystem of local jobs. The key takeaway from this week was that through collaboration, across municipalities and cities, we will all thrive and continue to create a Birmingham region that has more opportunities.

Throughout the summer months, we will host FuelAL for the Birmingham region, and showcase to our collegiate talent that Birmingham is a place they can work, live and play. If your company has summer interns, we encourage you to urge them to apply and take advantage of a summer’s worth of free events, helping to aid in their professional and early career development. The deadline to apply is Saturday, May 31. To learn more and apply, click here. 


Our efforts in job creation and workforce development improve each month and reflect our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for both businesses and talent across the Birmingham Region.   

Help us continue this momentum by sharing this update to your network and telling the story of our region’s economic progress.

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