Beaufort County’s unemployment rate fell from 6.6 percent in February to 6.3 percent in March, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division.

The county was among 97 of North Carolina’s 100 counties that experienced drops in the jobless rate from February to March. The unemployment rates in the three other counties did not change from February to March, according to LEAD information. Statewide, the unemployment rate fell from 5.6 percent in February to 5.4 percent in March.

“Just looking at it from our five county region, which includes Pitt, Beaufort, Martin, Bertie and Hertford, we’re seeing a slight increase in hiring activity, which can be attributed to an increasing economy. Also, it’s the time of the year when there are a lot more outdoor activities, and businesses can work as compared to the winter weather — logwoods and things like that, which impacts it (jobless rate). We have seen a slight uptick in that at this time of the year,” said Walter Dorsey, workforce development director of the Region Q Workforce Development staff, which has its headquarters at the Mid-East Commission in Washington.

In March Beaufort County’s workforce totaled 19,963 people. Of that number, 18,700 were drawing paychecks, and 1,263 people were unable to secure employment, according to LEAD data. Beaufort County’s workforce in February totaled 19,888 people, with 1,314 of them unable to find employment, according to LEAD figures. That meant 18,574 members of the workforce were on the job.

Graham County had the highest unemployment rate in March at 13.9 percent. Orange County had the lowest jobless rate in March at 14.1 percent.

Seventeen counties had unemployment rates at 5 percent or less in February, with 78 counties having jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent, according to LEAD figures. Five counties had unemployment rates at or above 10 percent.

Hyde County’s jobless rate fell from 14.1 percent in February to 12.2 percent in March. Martin County’s unemployment rate fell from 7.1 percent in February to 6.9 percent in March. The jobless rate in Washington County declined fro 9.4 percent in February to 8.7 percent in March. Pitt County’s unemployment rate fell from 5.6 percent in February to 5.5 percent in March.

The Greenville-Washington combined statistical area’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.8 percent in February to 5.6 percent in March, according to preliminary LEAD figures. In March 2014, that rate was at 6.6 percent.

The jobless figures released by the state do not include unemployed people whose unemployment insurance benefits expired and who are not listed as unemployed. Factor in those people and a county’s true jobless rate is higher.