(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina's unemployment rate fell for a third consecutive month. The State Division of Employment Security reported that the March jobless rate was 9.7 percent.  This is down from the from February’s revised rate of 9.9 percent, which was the first time in more than a year that the rate was below 10 percent.

“Over-the-year figures continue to show improving numbers with the private sector gaining more than 37,000 jobs," N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll.

The number of people without a job decreased by 12,092 in March to 451,657. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm industry employment decreased by 1,300 to 3,958,900. Since March 2011, total nonfarm jobs gained 38,800 with the majority of the gain coming from the Private Sector. The major industry with the largest over-the-month increase was Financial Activities, which gained 1,600.