Alabama is enjoying one of the most robust economic recoveries in the country. In fact, it’s number four among all 50 states, with a 54 percent increase in continued insured employment.
So what’s keeping Alabama's economic engine churning? One of the state’s biggest advantages is its economic diversity. Alabama’s job market spans across industries from timber to high tech, and recent growth continues that trend.
- Auto Industry– Alabama’s auto industry began almost 25 years ago when Mercedes-Benz started building its M-Class SUV in Tuscaloosa County. In 2019, more than 1 million cars were produced across the state at Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai plants. And as the industry bounces back, Alabama stands to gain more than 6,000 jobs in the coming months, from Huntsville to Montgomery to Vance.
- Distribution and Logistics– The state’s central location, combined with easy access to major interstates, waterways, and a deep-water port make it ideal for the distribution and logistics sector. Companies including Lowe’s, Carvana, Dollar General, Home Depot, FedEx Ground, and Amazon have all found homes – and a motivated workforce – here in the Yellowhammer State.
- Tech Acceleration– If nothing else, the pandemic has shown that people can work anywhere. That realization means tech companies are trading some traditional tech hotspots – which can be incredibly expensive – in favor of lower cost markets like Alabama.
- Rural Growth– Beyond the city limits, Alabama’s rural areas are attracting national and international companies, too. New projects and investments are bringing more than $45 million in investments and nearly 300 jobs to cities such as Selma, Alexander City, and Greenville.
All this job growth – and the economic momentum behind it – is great news for the people who live in Alabama and those who plan to move here. The Department of Commerce and the state’s primary workforce development agency, Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT), work together to attract new business and make sure the state’s workforce is trained and ready for the jobs that come. That workforce, plus the incentives and opportunities available in Alabama, remain a key reason businesses choose Alabama for both new locations and ongoing expansion.
Where the Jobs Are in Alabama
Birmingham Metro Area
- 300 new jobs at Amazon
- 200 new jobs at Lowe’s Home Improvement 1.2 million-square-foot distribution facility
- 300 expected jobs at FedEx Ground $40 million facility
- 50 new jobs as part of Buffalo Rock’s $75 million expansion for the 120-year-old Pepsi distributor, with as many as 50 new jobs
- 70 new jobs at Valeo’s existing Bessemer location
Huntsville/North Alabama
- 500 new jobs as part of a $70+ million investment to expand or locate 8 companies in the Madison County area:
- Dynetics in weapon development work
- Torch Technologies in information technology
- Invariant Corporation, a software development company
- Nippon Express USA/Mazda Toyota Manufacturing
- Aldez, an automotive supplier
- Palco, financial management services company
- Ridgeview Industries, automotive supplier
