How many jobs were lost in Alabama last month?
Refreshed monthly
Alabama lost 2,000 jobs in July 2026, ranking it 40th 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 2,600 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-2K
month to month change in number of jobs (July 2026)
40th
rank among states in monthly job growth (July 2026)
Alabama’s job loss of 2,000 in July 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 1,300 gain in June 2026.
During the latest five year period (August 2021 to July 2026), Alabama gained jobs in 46 out of 60 months. July 2026 had the fourth-lowest 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 2,000 fewer jobs in July 2026 in Alabama than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, August 2021–July 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Alabama sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in July 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in July 2026 were health care and social assistance, administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, and private educational services. Health care and social assistance added 600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services gained 500 jobs, while private educational services added 400. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were construction, non-durable goods, and real estate and rental and leasing. Construction lost 2,200 jobs in July 2026, while non-durable goods lost 400 jobs and real estate and rental and leasing lost 300 jobs.
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The retail trade sector lost 100 jobs during July 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Alabama (July 2026)
How has Alabama's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Alabama gained an average of 367 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 1,242, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 15th-highest in job growth since 2007.
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 367 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 12 metro areas primarily in Alabama during July 2026 ranged from a loss of 300 jobs in the Auburn, AL area to a gain of 500 jobs in the Huntsville, AL area metro area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Alabama
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +500 | |
| 2. | +200 | |
| 3. | +200 | |
| 4. | +100 | |
| 5. | +100 | |
| 6. | +0 | |
| 7. | +0 | |
| 8. | -100 | |
| 9. | -200 | |
| 10. | -200 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
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.
