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Texas Jobless Rate Drops To 8.1 Percent In March

AUSTIN (AP) - The unemployment rate in Texas has dropped slightly for the second straight month as the state continues to add jobs.

The Texas Workforce Commission said Friday that the jobless rate for March was 8.1 percent, down from 8.2 percent a month earlier. The February rate was down from 8.3 percent in January.

The state added 37,200 nonfarm jobs in March, the sixth consecutive month of job growth.

The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 8.8 percent.

Professional and business services led the state's job sectors with an increase of 10,800 jobs.

Midland maintained the state's lowest local jobless rate at 4.6 percent for March. Brownsville-Harlingen is the highest at 12.0 percent.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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