Beaufort County’s unemployment rate fell from 5.8 percent in February to 5.3 percent in March, according to information compiled by the Labor & Economics Analysis Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

From February to March, 98 of the state’s 100 counties experienced declines in their unemployment rates, one county’s jobless rate increased and one county’s unemployment rate did not change, according to LEAD figures. The state’s unemployment rate fell from 5 percent in February to 4.7 percent in March.

A traditional eastern North Carolina industry could be partly responsible for the decrease in jobless rates in area counties.

Several boat manufacturers in the region are hiring, according to Darone Dancy, NCWorks Career Center manager in Beaufort County. “Beaufort County is known for its local talent, craftsmen and boat-building enterprises. We want to bring together the people with skills to the businesses that need them,” Dancy said last week in an interview about this past weekend’s Marine Market on the Washington waterfront.

Among the state’s 100 counties in March, 58 of them had unemployment rates of 5 percent or lower, 41 counties had jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent and one county had a jobless rate of 10 percent or higher. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate in March at 12.3 percent, according to LEAD data. Buncombe County had the lowest jobless rate in March at 3.7 percent.

All 15 of the state’s metropolitan areas experienced rate decreases from February to March.

After Hyde County, Tyrrell County, Scotland County and Dare County had the next-highest jobless rates in the state for March at 9.2 percent, 8.1 and 7.9 percent, respectively.

For March, Beaufort County’s jobless rated was ranked 66^th in the state.

For March, Beaufort County’s workforce totaled 20.587 people, with 19,492 of them on the job, leaving 1,095 people without work. In February, Beaufort County’s workforce totaled 20,477 people, with 1,183 of them unable to secure employment and 19,294 members of the workforce on the job, according to LEAD data.

Hyde County’s jobless rate decreased from 15.6 percent in February to 12.3 percent in March. In March 2016, its unemployment rate was at 12.5 percent.

From February to March, Martin County’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.4 percent to 5.9 percent. In March 2016, its jobless rate was at 5.2 percent.

Pitt County’s jobless rate was at 5.2 percent in Feuary, falling to 5.2 percent in March. In March 2016, its unemployment rate was at 5.9 percent.

Washington County’s unemployment rate decreased from 8.2percent in February to 7.1 percent in Maarch. In March 2016, the county’s jobless rate was at 7.1 percent.

The Washington statistical area’s jobless rate in March was 5.3 percent, down from 5.8 percent from the previous month. The Greenville-Washington combined statistical area’s jobless rate for March was 5 percent, down from 5.3 percent in February.

Of the state’s 15 metropolitan statistical areas, five of the six MSAs east of Interstate 95 and the Fayetteville MSA had the highest unemployment rates in March, all above or at the state rate of 4.7 percent, according to LEAD figures. The Wilmington MSA’s jobless rate for March was 4.4 percent. The Rocky Mount MSA was the highest at 6.6 percent for March.

The jobless figures released by the Commerce Department 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.