Alabama was admitted into statehood in December 14, 1819. It is found in the southeastern region of the United States of America and has a population of 4,708,708 (2009 est.).* Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Dothan, Decatur, Auburn and Gadsden are the largest cities in the state of Alabama.
The state’s largest industries include aerospace, education, health care, banking, automotive manufacturing, mineral extraction, steel production and metal fabrication. According to the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, Alabama’s gross state product as of 2008 was $170 billion, or $29,411 per capita.**
Although Alabama is known as “The Cotton State”, it only ranks between eight and ten in the production of cotton nationwide, the top three consisting of Texas, Georgia and Mississippi.
Alabama’s industrial commodities include iron and steel, paper, lumber and wood products; coal mining; plastic products; automobiles and apparel. Aerospace and electronic products are also manufactured in the state, particularly in Huntsville City where the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Army Aviation and Missile Command are located.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed Alabama’s unemployment rate at 9.2% as of August 2010.***
| Unemployment Agency | Website | Phone Number | State |
| Dept. of Industrial Relations | Alabama Website | 866-234-5382 | Alabama Unemployment Benefits |
Below is a list of the 50 largest employers in Alabama:****
| Employer | City |
| HONDA MANUFACTURING OF ALABAMA | Lincoln |
| ALABAMA POWER CO. | Birmingham |
| RUSSELL CORP. | Alexander City |
| GULF COAST INTERIROS – UPHOLSTERY | Fairhope |
| SEARS HOMETOWN STORE | Prattville |
| ARMY FLEET SUPPORT | Fort Rucker |
| BROOKWOOD MEDICAL CENTER | Birmingham |
| DCH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | Tuscaloosa |
| HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA | Montgomery |
| JACK HUGHSTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | Phenix City |
| DELPHI STEERING DIV | Tanner |
| PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL | Mobile |
| RITE WAY SVC | Birmingham |
| AMERICAN CAST IRON PIPE CO. | Birmingham |
| EAST ALABAMA MEDICAL CENTER | Opelika |
| SHAW INDUSTRIES INC. | Andalusia |
| SOUTHEAST ALABAMA MEDICAL CENTER | Dothan |
| MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER | Mobile |
| HIGHWAY AND HEDGES MINISTRIES | Shelby |
| MAPLES INDUSTRIES INC. | Scottsboro |
| ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL | Birmingham |
| PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORP. | Boaz |
| ALFA FARMERS FEDERATION | Montgomery |
| CINDRAM INC. | Huntsville |
| EASTERN HEALTH SYSTEM INC. | Birmingham |
| GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORP. | Pennington |
| HEALTH SERVICES FOUNDATION | Birmingham |
| INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO. | Courtland |
| MC ABEE CONSTRUCTION INC. | Tuscaloosa |
| SANMINA-SCI CORP. | Huntsville |
| U.S. STEEL CORP. | Fairfield |
| TRINITY MEDICAL CENTER | Birmingham |
| MERCEDES-BENZ USA LLC | Vance |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA | Birmingham |
| TELEDYNE BROWN ENGINEERING INC. | Huntsville |
| NORTHEAST AL REGIONAL MED CTR | Anniston |
| RHEEM WATER HEATING | Montgomery |
| PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORP. | Guntersville |
| BBVA COMPASS INVESTMENT SLTNS | Birmingham |
| ELIZA COFFEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | Florence |
| PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT | Montgomery |
| SAAD’S HOSPICE SVC | Mobile |
| SINGLE KNIT | Alexander City |
| ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL-EAST | Birmingham |
| V.A. MEDICAL CENTER-BIRMINGHAM | Birmingham |
| WELLBORN CABINET INC. | Ashland |
| B.F. GOODRICH TIRE CO-PLANT | Tuscaloosa |
| GOODYEAR TIRE AND CO. | Gadsden |
| PRINCETON BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER | Birmingham |
| PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP. | Birmingham |
Sources:
* http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01000.html
** http://www.bea.gov/regional/gsp/action.cfm
*** http://data.bls.gov:8080/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet;jsessionid=623077a0662c71511538
**** http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview6.asp?soccode=&stfips=01&from=State&id=11&nodeid=12