Forbes included Mobile among its top 10 U.S. cities for recession recovery in a ranking reported in June 2009.
The ranking considered projected metropolitan economic output, unemployment, home prices and income. At the time, Mobile’s unemployment rate was reported at 8.5 percent, while the metro area’s gross domestic product was projected to grow from $13.5 billion to $14.5 billion by the end of the following year.
Industry diversity factored into outlook
The report cited Mobile’s mix of aerospace, maritime, health care and hospitality industries as a factor supporting its recovery outlook. Mayor Sam Jones welcomed the recognition but said the city still needed to manage spending cautiously during the downturn.
Mobile had also received a Forbes designation the previous year as the fastest-growing midsized U.S. city, according to the report. Together, the recognitions reflected local optimism about the region’s ability to withstand the national recession.
This is a historical account of a 2009 ranking and economic projection. It does not represent current Forbes rankings, present-day unemployment data or a current forecast for Mobile’s economy.