More good economic news for Alabama

The state's January unemployment rate came in at 3.8%. That's up from 3.6% in December (the lowest ever recorded in Alabama), but it is still well below the national average of 4.7%, and it remains among the lowest in the nation.

In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week that Alabama's unemployment rate declined by 1.2% from 2004 to 2005. That ties with Oregon as the largest decrease in the nation over that time period.

For 2005, only 10 other states had average unemployment rates that were lower than Alabama's 4.0%: Hawaii (2.8%), North Dakota (3.4%), Vermont (3.5%), Virginia (3.5%), New Hampshire (3.6%), Wyoming (3.6%), Florida (3.8%), Idaho (3.8%), Nebraska (3.8%), and South Dakota (3.9%). Minnesota had the same rate as Alabama. Nationwide, the average for 2005 was 5.1%.