How many jobs were lost in Alabama last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
Alabama gained 7,800 jobs in January 2026, ranking it 11th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 3,000 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+7.8K
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
11th
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
January 2026's gain of 7,800 jobs was the second consecutive month of positive job growth in Alabama. Monthly job growth was up from the 1,000 new jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Alabama gained jobs in 46 out of 60 months. June 2025 had the ninth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+15,200) while job growth was weakest in June 2025 (-3,400).
There were 7,800 more jobs in January 2026 in Alabama than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Alabama sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Alabama gained jobs in 46 out of 60 months. June 2025 had the ninth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+15,200) while job growth was weakest in June 2025 (-3,400).
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, construction, and accommodation and food services. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services added 2,200 jobs. Construction gained 1,500 jobs, while accommodation and food services added 800. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The retail trade sector gained 700 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Alabama (January 2026)
How does Alabama's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has gained an average of 908 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 2,100, and the smallest since 2024. The 2025 average ranks as 14th-highest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 7,300 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 4,100 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Alabama gained an average of 908 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 12 metro areas at least partially in Alabama during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 100 jobs in the Florence, AL area to a gain of 1,900 jobs in the Birmingham, AL area metro area.
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
