Where to Find Jobs in Birmingham AL
Regardless of the current state of the national and local economy, there are plenty of places to look for jobs in Birmingham AL.
During September, the Birmingham-Hoover area saw its unemployment rate stay even at 10.2 percent, which is slightly higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent. The area hasn't seen its unemployment rate decrease since July, when it went from 10.1 percent to 9.9 percent.
The area had a total non-farm employment of 506,400 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 508,500 workers during August and a 3.7 percent decrease from last year.
Despite Birmingham's bleak employment situation, the area has a lot to offer when it comes to finding a job.
Based on the area's competitive salary rates and low living expenses, Birmingham has often been rated as one of the country's best places to work and earn a living. In 2006, Salary.com named Birmingham second in the nation for building personal net worth based on local salary rates, living expenses and unemployment rates. That same year, Bizjournals.com found the city's combined personal income to be $48.1 billion.
The State of Alabama is home to four Fortune 500 companies, all of which are located in Birmingham. Those companies include: Regions Financial, Vulcan Materials, Protective Life and HealthSouth.
Birmingham has a strong healthcare industry, which includes healthcare services provider HealthSouth. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with the connected hospital, is the largest employer in Birmingham and all of Alabama with about 20,000 employees.
The steel industry still has a strong presence in Birmingham, with local companies making about $100 million worth of investments and expansions in the area. U.S. Steel, McWane and Nucor - all major players in the steel industry - have big presences in Birmingham.
Along with Regions Financial, Birmingham also is home to Compass Bancshares, making the city a leading banking center. Birmingham also serves as one of the regional headquarters of Wachovia.
The city is home to Buffalo Rock, a major bottler for Pepsi, and a plant for Coca-Cola Bottling Company United. Birmingham also has strong presences from companies in the telecommunications, insurance, construction, engineering and dairy industries.