(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina's jobless rate decline in March.  The State Employment Security Commission reported the March unemployment rate at 9.7 percent.  This is down from the February rate of 9.8 percent.

The state produced the third consecutive month of job gains. Non-farm jobs increased by 13,900 in March.

“It is encouraging to see job growth in each of the first three months of this year,” said ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes.

The largest over-the-month employment increase occurred in professional and business services.  This sector was up 6,000.