Find a Job You Really Want In
If you’re feeling unfulfilled in your career but love your hometown, you may be on the hunt for new job opportunities without leaving your community. To assist with this, we’ve compiled a list of Alabama cities boasting the strongest job markets, based on the latest unemployment rates.
Many individuals settle in their current locations due to job opportunities, but if you’re considering relocating to Alabama for work or simply exploring new career options, understanding the local job market is crucial.
Using demographic data from the Census Bureau, we identified cities with populations over 10,000 and analyzed their unemployment rates to find the best job markets. Here are the cities in Alabama with the lowest unemployment rates:
- Mountain Brook(Jobs)
- Vestavia Hills(Jobs)
- Chelsea(Jobs)
- Homewood(Jobs)
- Trussville(Jobs)
- Helena(Jobs)
- Fairhope(Jobs)
- Gardendale(Jobs)
- Hoover(Jobs)
- Cullman(Jobs)
For employers, a strong local job market is also a significant indicator of a community’s overall health. Mountain Brook stands out as the city in Alabama with the lowest unemployment rate.
Continue reading to discover how we identified the cities in Alabama with the most promising job opportunities.
For additional job information in Alabama, check out:
How We Determined The Cities In Alabama With The Lowest Unemployment Rates
To pinpoint Alabama’s cities with the lowest unemployment rates, we focused on areas with populations exceeding 10,000 and accessible data.
This analysis covered 62 locations across Alabama.
We evaluated unemployment rates using data from the most recent American Community Survey by the Census Bureau, establishing a ranking from one to 62 with one being the city with the lowest unemployment.
In the event of ties, the larger city was favored. If your city isn’t in the top ten, scroll to the bottom for a comprehensive chart.
1. Mountain Brook
Population: 20,484
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%
Mountain Brook is the clear frontrunner with an impressive unemployment rate of just 2.2%, making it the best place in Alabama for job seekers.
Living here comes with the advantage of excellent job availability.
2. Vestavia Hills
Population: 34,061
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
Nestled in second place, Vestavia Hills boasts a low unemployment rate of 3.2%, solidifying its reputation as a desirable location for employment.
3. Chelsea
Population: 11,051
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
Chelsea rounds out the top three with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, making it a competitive option for job seekers.
4. Homewood
Population: 25,420
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
Homewood holds the fourth position with a population of 25,420 and a favorable unemployment rate of 3.6%, making it an excellent choice for those looking to start their career.
5. Trussville
Population: 20,229
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
Trussville claims the fifth spot, with a population of 20,229 and an unemployment rate of 4.1%, indicative of a robust job market.
6. Helena
Population: 16,752
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%
Helena comes in sixth place with a solid unemployment rate of 4.4%, making it a contender for job seekers valuing community.
7. Fairhope
Population: 16,661
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
Fairhope takes the seventh position with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, showcasing a promising job market for residents.
8. Gardendale
Population: 13,809
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
Gardendale ranks eighth, with a competitive unemployment rate of 4.7%, appealing to those looking for work in Alabama.
9. Hoover
Population: 82,849
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
Hoover finishes ninth with a substantial population and an unemployment rate of 4.9%, reinforcing its status as a promising area for employment.
10. Cullman
Population: 14,933
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
Rounding out our top ten is Cullman, with a 5.0% unemployment rate. Despite being last in this list, it remains a competitive city out of 62.
Summary of Unemployment Rates in Alabama
We’ve highlighted the ten Alabama cities with the lowest unemployment rates, showcasing their strong job markets. If you’re considering a move to Alabama and want to prioritize job opportunities, these cities are your best bet.
For further insights on cities and states across the U.S., visit www.zippia.com. Recent college graduates exploring relocation options can also check out which states college grads often settle in and which they tend to leave.
Additionally, here’s a brief overview of Alabama cities with the highest unemployment rates:
- Talladega
- Selma
- Prichard
Detailed List of Cities with the Lowest Unemployment in Alabama
| City | Rank | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Brook | 1 | 2.2% |
| Vestavia Hills | 2 | 3.2% |
| Chelsea | 3 | 3.2% |
| Homewood | 4 | 3.6% |
| Trussville | 5 | 4.1% |
| Helena | 6 | 4.4% |
| Fairhope | 7 | 4.5% |
| Gardendale | 8 | 4.7% |
| Hoover | 9 | 4.9% |
| Cullman | 10 | 5.0% |
| Albertville | 11 | 5.0% |
| Millbrook | 12 | 5.0% |
| Alabaster | 13 | 5.2% |
| Calera | 14 | 5.4% |
| Daphne | 15 | 5.4% |
| Leeds | 16 | 5.5% |
| Northport | 17 | 5.8% |
| Moody | 18 | 5.9% |
| Pleasant Grove | 19 | 6.3% |
| Enterprise | 20 | 6.6% |
| Opelika | 21 | 6.8% |
| Muscle Shoals | 22 | 6.8% |
| Auburn | 23 | 6.8% |
| Prattville | 24 | 7.1% |
| Florence | 25 | 7.1% |
| Pelham | 26 | 7.1% |
| Madison | 27 | 7.1% |
| Hueytown | 28 | 7.4% |
| Athens | 29 | 7.7% |
| Tuscaloosa | 30 | 8.6% |
| Dothan | 31 | 8.7% |
| Montgomery | 32 | 9.2% |
| Huntsville | 33 | 9.3% |
| Saraland | 34 | 9.4% |
| Irondale | 35 | 9.4% |
| Decatur | 36 | 9.6% |
| Troy | 37 | 10.0% |
| Jasper | 38 | 10.0% |
| Scottsboro | 39 | 10.2% |
| Phenix City | 40 | 10.4% |
| Hartselle | 41 | 10.5% |
| Mobile | 42 | 10.6% |
| Pell City | 43 | 10.7% |
| Gadsden | 44 | 10.9% |
| Oxford | 45 | 10.9% |
| Ozark | 46 | 11.0% |
| Fort Payne | 47 | 12.1% |
| Center Point | 48 | 12.1% |
| Alexander City | 49 | 12.2% |
| Foley | 50 | 12.9% |
| Birmingham | 51 | 13.3% |
| Jacksonville | 52 | 13.4% |
| Sylacauga | 53 | 14.0% |
| Gulf Shores | 54 | 14.0% |
| Fairfield | 55 | 14.6% |
| Bessemer | 56 | 15.3% |
| Anniston | 57 | 16.0% |
| Eufaula | 58 | 18.0% |
| Atmore | 59 | 18.8% |
| Prichard | 60 | 21.0% |
| Selma | 61 | 21.2% |
| Talladega | 62 | 21.4% |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
