How many jobs were lost in Alabama last month?
Refreshed monthly
Alabama lost 1,200 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 36th 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 2,700 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-1.2K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
36th
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
Alabama’s job loss of 1,200 in September 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 5,100 gain in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), Alabama gained jobs in 45 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the eighth-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 1,200 fewer jobs in September 2026 in Alabama than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Alabama sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were durable goods, non-durable goods, and other services. Durable goods added 800 jobs, more than the entire economy. Non-durable goods gained 600 jobs, while other services added 200. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were retail trade, construction, and administrative and support and waste management and remediation services. retail trade lost 900 jobs in September 2026, while construction lost 600 jobs and administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 500 jobs.
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The retail trade sector lost 900 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Alabama (September 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 4,200 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 September 2026 ranged from a loss of 300 jobs in the Tuscaloosa, AL area to a gain of 1,100 jobs in the Huntsville, AL 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. | +1,100 | |
| 2. | +900 | |
| 3. | +200 | |
| 4. | +100 | |
| 5. | +100 | |
| 6. | +0 | |
| 7. | -100 | |
| 8. | -100 | |
| 9. | -100 | |
| 10. | -100 |
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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.
