The first labor market report of 2026 has been released by the Alabama Department of Labor and the Montgomery area has made progress in recent months.
The Montgomery metro recorded an unemployment rate of 2.9% in March 2026, dropping from the 3.3% in February 2026 and the 3.0% in March 2025. The city of Montgomery has a rate of 3.2%, still well below the national average of 4.3%.
Montgomery’s labor force has increased each month in 2026, holding on to the fourth largest civilian work force in the state.
By the numbers: Montgomery employment
Here are some of the key numbers from the latest Alabama Labor Market Information report:
- 5,105: The total number of unemployed in the Montgomery metro, lower than the February 2026 report and the March 2025 report
- 3.1%: Unemployment rate for Montgomery county
- 2.7%: Unemployment rate for state of Alabama
- $31.96: Average hourly wages for Montgomery metro workers, up $1.80 since March 2025
- $1,178.60: Average weekly wages for Alabama workers, a new record high
- 46,900: Total number of government employees in the Montgomery metro