Delaware’s unemployment rate stayed steady at 6.9 percent in March as job growth remained weak when compared to less-than-robust national figures.
Even so, the jobless rate in the Firs
t State was more than one percent below the national figure.
The drop below 7 percent came after the February rate was revised downward to 6.9 percent.
The number of unemployed in the state was 30,300 in March, compared to 32,000 in March 2011. The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in March 2012, down from 8.3 percent in February 2012. In March 2011, the U.S. unemployment rate was 8.9 percent.
In March 2012, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment was 419,700, down from 420,600 in Februrary. The decrease of 900 jobs was mainly due to decreases in professional and business services and construction.
Since March 2011, Delaware’s total nonfarm employment has increased by gain of 1,300, a rise of 0.3 percent.
Nationally, jobs during that period increased 1.5 percent.. Over the past twelve months, the job gains in Delaware were in education and health at 1,800, transportation and utilities at 1,000, and local government at 700. The largest over-the-year job losses were in construction at 1,200, and leisure and hospitality at 1,100.
