The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Albany’s unemployment rate declined to 8.9 percent in March, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.1 percent in February. The rate was 9.5 percent in March a year ago.

The rate declined because the number of unemployed people decreased to 6,582, down by 209 from 6,791 in February. While the number of jobs was unchanged at 61,000 from February to March, they were up by 400, or 0.7 percent, from 60,600 in March 2012.

While first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits rose slightly in March to 798, up from 791 in February, they were down by 35, from 833 in March 2012. Most of the decline came in administrative and support services and accommodations and food 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.