The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region declined to 8.3 percent in March, down five-tenths of a percentage point from 8.8 percent in February. The rate was 9.2 percent in March a year ago.

The rate declined because the number of unemployed people decreased to 34,074, down by 2,088 from 36,162 in February. There were fewer new layoffs, which were represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits. Claims fell by 180 from 4,768 in February to 4,588 in March. The decreases came mostly in construction, wholesale trade, transportation, and warehousing, along with administrative and support services.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.9 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 10.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 8.4 percent, down from 8.6 percent in February. The rate was 9.1 percent in March a year ago.