Alabama's August unemployment rate at 3.5%

From the Birmingham News:

Alabama's unemployment rate fell in August to 3.5 percent, the second-lowest figure on record, Gov. Bob Riley said Friday.

The rate was down from 3.9 percent in July, matching the figure from a year ago. Alabama bested the national average of 4.7 percent, which dropped slightly from 4.8 percent in July and 4.9 percent in August 2005. ...

The jobs report shows a strong labor market for Alabama, where the unemployment rate fell in March to a record low of 3.3 percent. But it has made finding qualified workers more difficult for area employers, said Toni Gilmer, human resources director at Birmingham-based Western Supermarkets.

"The pool we're pulling from is getting shallower and shallower, which means we're having to offer higher salaries and being more creative in recruiting," said Gilmer, whose chain has seven area stores.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only eight states had lower unemployment rates than Alabama in August. They were: Hawaii (2.8%), South Dakota (3.2%), Utah (3.2%), Florida (3.3%), Idaho (3.3%), Nebraska (3.3%), Wyoming (3.3%), and Louisiana (3.4% !!). Montana, New Hampshire, and North Dakota tied Alabama's rate of 3.5%.