But Fall River also had the highest unemployment rate of any major city in the state during the month, according to figures released Tuesday by the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Kevin P. O'Connor Herald News Staff Reporter @HNKPO

FALL RIVER – Unemployment in the city edged down in March.

But Fall River also had the highest unemployment rate of any major city in the state during the month, according to figures released Tuesday by the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

The city recorded an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent in March, down from 8.2 percent in February. It was tied with Eastham as having the ninth highest unemployment among the state’s 351 cities and towns.

The city had a workforce of 41,083 in March, up from 40,850 in February. There were 37,878 employed and 3,205 unemployed.

MASSACHUSETTS: The state unemployment was recorded at 3.8 percent, down from 4 percent in February. The average for 2017 was 3.7 percent.

The state had the 18th lowest unemployment rate among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

RHODE ISLAND: Unemployment dropped to 4.8 percent in March from 5.3 percent in February. The average for 2017 was 4.5 percent. It was ranked at 36th in national unemployment, tied with Connecticut, Mississippi and North Carolina.

U.S. Unemployment was 4.1 percent in March, down from 4.4 percent in February. The 2017 average was 4.4 percent. (All the numbers used here are not seasonally adjusted.)

TOP FIVE COMMUNITIES: Cape Cod and the Islands maintained its hold on the unemployment lead. Provincetown had the highest unemployment in the state, at 22.4 percent, followed by Truro, 14.8; Wellfleet, 11.3; Edgartown and Nantucket, 9.6.

LARGER CITIES: Fall River lead the list, at 7.8 percent, followed by Lawrence, 7.3; New Bedford, 7.3; Springfield, 6.5; Brockton, 4.9; Taunton, 4.8; Lowell, 4.4; Lynn and Worcester, 4.0; Boston, 3.1; Cambridge, 2.1.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES: Somerset, 4.2, down from 4.8 percent in February; Swansea, 4.7, down from 5.2; Westport, 6.0, down from 6.6; Tiverton, 4.7, down from 5.6.

Taunton, 4.8, down from 5.1; Berkley, 3.7, down from 4.0; Dighton, 4.1, down from 4.9; Freetown, 4.7, down from 4.8; Lakeville, 3.9, down from 4.2; Raynham, 3.5, down from 4.1; Rehoboth, 3.9, down from 4.1.

BRISTOL COUNTY: Unemployment was 5.2 percent in March, down from 5.6 percent in February. It tied with Hampden County, which includes Springfield, for the fourth highest unemployment. Topping the list is Nantucket County, at 9.6 percent, Dukes County, 8.3 percent and Barnstable County, 6.4 percent. Dukes County covers Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. Barnstable County covers Cape Cod.

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.