Effective October 1, those filing for unemployment online will have to go to a new web address.

The Alabama Department of Labor and the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations are merging, and the new website will be www.labor.alabama.gov.

“This merger just makes sense,” said ADIR Director Tom Surtees. “We are eliminating costly rents and operating expenses and consolidating functions. As far as the name change goes, we are simply bringing the ‘new’ department’s name in line with what most of our corresponding state agencies use, as well as the U.S. Department of Labor.”

The merger is expected to save between $100,000 and $200,000 per year for the state. It is a result of legislation passed in the 2012 regular legislative session.