Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Alabama

Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Selma, AL had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 66 cities in 2023, at 14.4%. Spanish Fort, AL had the lowest, at 0.9%. The median was 4.4% and the figure for Alabama was 4.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest14.4Selma, AL
Lowest0.9Spanish Fort, AL
Median4.466 cities
Alabama4.8History

Top 40 cities, 2023

Selma, AL: 14.4 %Selma, AL14.4Talladega, AL: 12.5 %Talladega, AL12.5Prichard, AL: 10.5 %Prichard, AL10.5Center Point, AL: 10.1 %Center Point, AL10.1Ozark, AL: 9.1 %Ozark, AL9.1Gadsden, AL: 8.9 %Gadsden, AL8.9Bessemer, AL: 8.8 %Bessemer, AL8.8Irondale, AL: 8.7 %Irondale, AL8.7Rainbow City, AL: 8.6 %Rainbow City, AL8.6Sylacauga, AL: 7.9 %Sylacauga, AL7.9Alexander City, AL: 7.7 %Alexander City, AL7.7Jacksonville, AL: 7.6 %Jacksonville, AL7.6Hueytown, AL: 7.2 %Hueytown, AL7.2Tuscaloosa, AL: 7.1 %Tuscaloosa, AL7.1Pell City, AL: 6.8 %Pell City, AL6.8Montgomery, AL: 6.5 %Montgomery, AL6.5Anniston, AL: 6.1 %Anniston, AL6.1Birmingham, AL: 6.1 %Birmingham, AL6.1Fort Payne, AL: 6 %Fort Payne, AL6Mobile, AL: 6 %Mobile, AL6Phenix City, AL: 5.9 %Phenix City, AL5.9Florence, AL: 5.9 %Florence, AL5.9Albertville, AL: 5.8 %Albertville, AL5.8Foley, AL: 5.6 %Foley, AL5.6Millbrook, AL: 5.3 %Millbrook, AL5.3Northport, AL: 5.3 %Northport, AL5.3Moody, AL: 5.1 %Moody, AL5.1Opelika, AL: 5.1 %Opelika, AL5.1Decatur, AL: 5 %Decatur, AL5Oxford, AL: 4.8 %Oxford, AL4.8Enterprise, AL: 4.5 %Enterprise, AL4.5Dothan, AL: 4.5 %Dothan, AL4.5Hartselle, AL: 4.4 %Hartselle, AL4.4Huntsville, AL: 4.4 %Huntsville, AL4.4Eufaula, AL: 4.1 %Eufaula, AL4.1Hoover, AL: 4 %Hoover, AL4Russellville, AL: 3.9 %Russellville, AL3.9Auburn, AL: 3.8 %Auburn, AL3.8Fairhope, AL: 3.6 %Fairhope, AL3.6Chelsea, AL: 3.6 %Chelsea, AL3.6Selma, AL: 14.4 %Selma, AL14.4Talladega, AL: 12.5 %Talladega, AL12.5Prichard, AL: 10.5 %Prichard, AL10.5Center Point, AL: 10.1 %Center Point, AL10.1Ozark, AL: 9.1 %Ozark, AL9.1Gadsden, AL: 8.9 %Gadsden, AL8.9Bessemer, AL: 8.8 %Bessemer, AL8.8Irondale, AL: 8.7 %Irondale, AL8.7Rainbow City, AL: 8.6 %Rainbow City, AL8.6Sylacauga, AL: 7.9 %Sylacauga, AL7.9Alexander City, AL: 7.7 %Alexander City, AL7.7Jacksonville, AL: 7.6 %Jacksonville, AL7.6Hueytown, AL: 7.2 %Hueytown, AL7.2Tuscaloosa, AL: 7.1 %Tuscaloosa, AL7.1Pell City, AL: 6.8 %Pell City, AL6.8Montgomery, AL: 6.5 %Montgomery, AL6.5Anniston, AL: 6.1 %Anniston, AL6.1Birmingham, AL: 6.1 %Birmingham, AL6.1Fort Payne, AL: 6 %Fort Payne, AL6Mobile, AL: 6 %Mobile, AL6Phenix City, AL: 5.9 %Phenix City, AL5.9Florence, AL: 5.9 %Florence, AL5.9Albertville, AL: 5.8 %Albertville, AL5.8Foley, AL: 5.6 %Foley, AL5.6Millbrook, AL: 5.3 %Millbrook, AL5.3Northport, AL: 5.3 %Northport, AL5.3Moody, AL: 5.1 %Moody, AL5.1Opelika, AL: 5.1 %Opelika, AL5.1Decatur, AL: 5 %Decatur, AL5Oxford, AL: 4.8 %Oxford, AL4.8Enterprise, AL: 4.5 %Enterprise, AL4.5Dothan, AL: 4.5 %Dothan, AL4.5Hartselle, AL: 4.4 %Hartselle, AL4.4Huntsville, AL: 4.4 %Huntsville, AL4.4Eufaula, AL: 4.1 %Eufaula, AL4.1Hoover, AL: 4 %Hoover, AL4Russellville, AL: 3.9 %Russellville, AL3.9Auburn, AL: 3.8 %Auburn, AL3.8Fairhope, AL: 3.6 %Fairhope, AL3.6Chelsea, AL: 3.6 %Chelsea, AL3.6
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Selma, AL14.4+1.5 pts
2Talladega, AL12.5-1.8 pts
3Prichard, AL10.5-0 pts
4Center Point, AL10.1+0.1 pts
5Ozark, AL9.1-1 pts
6Gadsden, AL8.9+0.1 pts
7Bessemer, AL8.8-2 pts
8Irondale, AL8.7-0.7 pts
9Rainbow City, AL8.6+0.3 pts
10Sylacauga, AL7.9-1 pts
11Alexander City, AL7.7-0.5 pts
12Jacksonville, AL7.6+0.8 pts
13Hueytown, AL7.2-0.6 pts
14Tuscaloosa, AL7.1+0.3 pts
15Pell City, AL6.8-0.6 pts
16Montgomery, AL6.5-0.8 pts
17Anniston, AL6.1+0.6 pts
18Birmingham, AL6.1-1.4 pts
19Fort Payne, AL6-0.2 pts
20Mobile, AL6-0.6 pts
21Phenix City, AL5.9-1.1 pts
22Florence, AL5.9+0.2 pts
23Albertville, AL5.8-0.2 pts
24Foley, AL5.6+0.7 pts
25Millbrook, AL5.3+0.8 pts
25Northport, AL5.3-0.3 pts
27Moody, AL5.1+1.2 pts
28Opelika, AL5.10 pts
29Decatur, AL5-0.1 pts
30Oxford, AL4.8+0.2 pts
31Enterprise, AL4.5+0.5 pts
32Dothan, AL4.5-0.6 pts
33Hartselle, AL4.4+0.4 pts
34Huntsville, AL4.4-0.3 pts
35Eufaula, AL4.1-1.2 pts
36Hoover, AL4+0.2 pts
37Russellville, AL3.9+0.4 pts
38Auburn, AL3.8+0.8 pts
39Fairhope, AL3.6-1 pts
40Chelsea, AL3.6-0.5 pts
40Saraland, AL3.6-0.6 pts
42Jasper, AL3.5-1.8 pts
43Scottsboro, AL3.4-0.4 pts
44Clay, AL3.4+1 pts
45Athens, AL3.3-1 pts
46Alabaster, AL3.3+0.3 pts
47Gardendale, AL3.2+1.4 pts
48Troy, AL3.1-0.4 pts
49Cullman, AL2.8+0.1 pts
50Gulf Shores, AL2.6+0.2 pts
51Madison, AL2.5-0.5 pts
52Muscle Shoals, AL2.4-0.8 pts
53Valley, AL2.2-0.2 pts
54Helena, AL2.20 pts
55Homewood, AL2.1+0.1 pts
56Daphne, AL2.1-0.7 pts
57Prattville, AL2-0.2 pts
58Boaz, AL20 pts
59Trussville, AL1.8-1 pts
60Vestavia Hills, AL1.7+0.2 pts
61Pelham, AL1.7-0.1 pts
62Pike Road, AL1.3-0.4 pts
63Leeds, AL1.1-0.2 pts
64Mountain Brook, AL1+0.1 pts
65Calera, AL1-0.1 pts
66Spanish Fort, AL0.9-1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_alabama_by_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Alabama by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Selma, AL, with 14.4% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Spanish Fort, AL, with 0.9% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Alabama: more rankings