MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama's unemployment rate has declined slightly to 6.8 percent.

Gov. Robert Bentley announced today the May rate was down from 6.9 percent in April and was well below last May's rate of 7.5 percent. The number of unemployed people in Alabama dropped by about 2,600 from April, and the number of people employed increased by more than 6,000.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby at 4.3 percent, Blount and Lee at 5.0 percent, and Autauga and Cullman at 5.4 percent. Counties with the highest rates are Wilcox at 14.7 percent, Perry at 12.6 percent and Dallas at 12.5 percent.