Marengo County’s unemployment rate for November was 7 percent, down from 7.6 percent in October and 8.1 percent in November 2012.

Governor Robert Bentley announced Friday that Alabama’s preliminary seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate is 6.2 percent, down from October’s revised rate of 6.4 percent.

November’s rate represents 132,381 unemployed persons, compared to 137,160 in October and 148,956 in November 2012.

“The long-term trend in Alabama’s unemployment rate is encouraging news for Alabamians who want a job,” Gov. Robert Bentley said in a release. “Every Alabama county has a decrease in their unemployment rate for November, and that is a sign that Alabamians are getting back to work in both rural and urban areas of Alabama. There is still much work left to be done, however, until Alabama reaches full employment, and our efforts to recruit more jobs will continue.”

Marengo County’s 7 percent represents 524 county residents out of work.

“Not surprisingly, it appears as though season hiring, especially in retail establishments, helped to lower our unemployment rate,” Alabama Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said in a release. “This traditionally happens during the months of November and December as employers prepare for the Christmas shopping rush.”

Wage and salary employment increased 4,100 in November, with the majority of the growth in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, including retail trade, which saw an increase of about 8,000 jobs.

Growth was also seen in the government, education and health services and manufacturing sectors.

“The decline in the county unemployment rates, which range from at least a half a percentage point to nearly two, may present a clearer picture of what is actually going on throughout Alabama as the county data are not seasonally adjusted,” Surtees said.

The counties with the highest unemployment in November were Wilcox at 13.9 percent, Bullock at 11.9 percent and Perry and Dallas at 11.1 percent.

The counties with the lowest unemployment in November were Shelby at 3.6 percent, Lee at 4.5 percent and Cullman, St. Clair and Cherokee at 4.7 percent.