The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate declined to 7.7 percent in March, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 8.0 percent in February. The rate was 8.6 percent in March a year ago.

The rate declined because the number of unemployed people decreased to 5,205, down by 246 from 5,451 in February. The number of jobs rose to 53,900, up by 100 from 53,800 in February. Most of the growth came in the service-related industries.

Over-the-year, metro Valdosta added 300 jobs, or 0.6 percent, from 53,600 in March 2012. Most of the growth was in retail trade, state government, and goods-producing industries, which includes manufacturing and construction.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.9 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 10.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 8.4 percent, down from 8.6 percent in February. The rate was 9.1 percent in March a year ago.