Alabama Economic Dashboard
Explore key economic indicators specific to Alabama, including comprehensive labor market metrics, income data, and housing statistics. Track Alabama's civilian labor force, unemployment trends, and economic performance compared to national averages.
Dashboard Controls
Alabama Economic Indicators
Performance Comparison
Labor Force Context
Understanding Alabama's labor market requires looking beyond just unemployment rates. The Civilian Labor Force represents the total number of people aged 16 and over who are either employed or actively seeking employment. This metric helps contextualize unemployment trends:
- Labor Force Size: Shows the scale of Alabama's workforce and long-term participation trends
- Economic Capacity: Larger labor forces indicate greater economic potential and population growth
- Context for Unemployment: A 5% unemployment rate means different things when the labor force is 2.1 million vs 2.3 million people
When combined with unemployment rates, labor force data reveals whether job market changes reflect economic growth, population shifts, or changing participation patterns. This comprehensive view helps policymakers and businesses make more informed decisions about Alabama's economic trajectory.