Birmingham Area Economic Summary
Updated May 31, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Unemployment rates for the Birmingham area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Birmingham area, 3rd quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,027; Area = $964)
Unemployment rates
4.7
United States
4.1
5.0
Birmingham
area
4.1
5.2
Jefferson Co.
4.3
3.9
Shelby Co.
3.3
4.6
St. Clair Co.
4.0
6.9
Walker Co.
5.1
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
Apr-16
Apr-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Birmingham area employment
(numbers in thousands)
Percent
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Apr-14
Birmingham area
Apr-15
United States
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
Apr-17
Total nonfarm
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
•
Apr.
2017
524.1
2.2
24.7
37.6
109.7
7.6
42.3
66.4
73.3
52.1
23.9
84.3
Change from Apr.
2016 to Apr. 2017
Number
Percent
3.6
-0.1
-1.1
-0.3
-0.5
-0.4
0.3
0.4
2.7
1.1
-0.2
1.7
0.7
-4.3
-4.3
-0.8
-0.5
-5.0
0.7
0.6
3.8
2.2
-0.8
2.1
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, April 2017
12.0
South region
U.S. city average
10.0
10.1
Percent
6.0
4.0
9.3
8.0
2.0
6.0
0.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
2.0
2.2
-2.0
0.2
All Items
0.5
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Automobile dealers
-4.0
Food
Energy
-6.0
Apr-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
South Region average annual expenditures 2015
Apr-15
Healthcare
$4,264
8.2%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$5,608
10.8%
Food
$6,613
12.7%
Transportation
$9,598
18.5%
Total:
$52,020
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
United
States
$22.33
$23.86
General and operations managers
62.10
58.70
Accountants and auditors
33.82
36.89
Registered nurses
28.76
34.70
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
19.51
20.96
Customer service representatives
16.64
16.91
Construction laborers
15.01
18.22
Retail salespersons
14.02
13.07
Nursing assistants
11.29
13.29
Security guards
10.48
14.29
Waiters and waitresses
9.88
11.73
Cashiers
9.18
10.43
Cooks, fast food
9.03
9.89
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Private industry, December
2016
Birmingham
area
Total, all occupations
Housing
$16,518
31.8%
Apr-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$9,419
18.1%
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
East South
Central (1)
$25.40
18.00
7.40
1.66
0.85
0.68
2.23
0.87
1.96
(1) East South Central includes AL, KY, MS, and TN.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$32.76
22.83
9.93
2.28
1.17
1.15
2.63
1.31
2.56
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.5
12-month percent changes in ECI
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Mar-14
East South Central
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southeast Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southeast • 404-893-4222
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17