Jobless Rate in Oklahoma Drops To 5.4 Percent For March

According to Friday jobs report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobless rate in Oklahoma has dropped to 5.4 percent in March, continuing the state's position as one of the lowest rates in the nation.

The drop represents an improvement of 0.6 percentage points over the month.

There are only five states with lower March rates: North Dakota (3.0); South Dakota (4.3); Iowa (5.2); New Hampshire (5.2); and Wyoming (5.3).

The national unemployment rate for March dropped only slightly from February – 0.1 percentage points – to 8.2 percent for the period.

Of Oklahoma's border states, Colorado shows a 7.8 jobless rate for March, while Texas posted a 7.8; Missouri and Arkansas sit at 7.4; New Mexico is at 7.2; and Kansas is at 6.2. Louisiana registered a 7.1.

Nevada kept its spot, once again representing the nation's highest unemployment rate.

New York is the only state that experienced a yearly increase, while all other 49 states posted a yearly decrease compared to March 2011.