The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Metro Macon’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.3 percent in March, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 7.5 percent in February. The rate was 8.5 percent in March a year ago.

The rate declined because Macon employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers.

The number of jobs increased to 98,500 in March, up by 600, 0.6 percent, from 97,900 in February. The job gains came mostly in trade and transportation, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and local government. Over the year, the number of jobs increased by 800, or 0.8 percent, from 97,700 in March 2013. Most of the increase came in trade, transportation, and warehousing, along with professional and business services.

There were 793 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in March, a drop of 121 from 914 in February. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing and construction. There were 854 claims in March 2013.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.1 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 7.0 percent, down from 7.1 percent in February. The rate was 8.4 percent in March a year ago.