According to the United States Department of Labor, 36 states including the District of Columbia have recorded a decrease in unemployment numbers.

With Alabama being one of those states, officials are hoping this trend continues.

Jeanne Sigler may be in the holiday spirit, but that may soon be gone along with her job after Christmas.

"My situation is a little scary right now because as I said I only have a couple more paychecks and then its over," she said.

New numbers are giving Sigler and others who are unemployed new hope.

Between October and November, unemployment has decreased by 2-tenths from 10.5 to 10.3 percent.

That’s the first it's dropped in more than two years.

While an increase in the job market is uplifting to hear, a few Wiregrass areas are still struggling.

Coffee County is one of the states lowest areas sitting at 7.8 percent unemployment and Houston County with an 8.7 percent unemployment rate.

Chairman Mark Culver said, "8.7 is still too high for Houston County; we're used to it being down in the four range, so the economy is struggling and so employers are struggling."

Even if it is for a short term, those like Sigler say it’s a start.

For the remaining states, eight of those have seen an increase in their unemployment; the remaining six saw no change.

Officials with the states industrial relations say even with the slight decrease, it doesn't constitute as a trend.