Alabama's unemployment rate went up for the fourth consecutive month to 10.0 percent, the highest figure since March 2010.
Figures compiled by the state Industrial Relations Department show Alabama had its lowest rate of the year with 9.2 percent in March. Then the rate rose to 9.3 percent in April, 9.6 percent in May and 9.9 percent in June. July's rate of 10.0 percent compares with 9.2 percent a year ago, and it represents 215,902 people looking for work.
Keivan Deravi, an economist at Auburn University Montgomery, said Friday the state is seeing the impact of the federal stimulus money running out, with employment levels in state and local governments and in education down from a year ago.
He said the rate is also impacted by unemployed people who had quit looking for work resuming their job searches, which means they show up in the unemployment numbers again.
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Alabama-unemployment-up-to-10-0-percent-for-July-2123287.php
