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The unemployment rate in Anson County continues to decline.

In March, the rate was 12.3 percent, down from 12.7 percent in February, according to a statement from the Employment Security Commission (ESC) of North Carolina.

“Unemployment rates declined in nearly every county in March,” ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes said. “We are beginning to see more counties drop below a rate of 10 percent unemployment. This reflects the commitment by Gov. [Bev] Perdue and our workforce partners to grow jobs in our state, and this agency remains focused on putting people back to work.”

The rate declined in 99 of the state’s 100 counties in March. Statewide, unemployment rests at 9.7 percent, with 39 counties facing an unemployed population between five and 10 percent and 61 counties coping with unemployment over 10 percent.

Locally, Anson is faring worse than most of its neighbors. Stanly County has an unemployment rate of 10.7 percent while Richmond County and Union County have unemployment rates of 12.5 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively.

The county with the lowest unemployment rate in the state is Orange County at 6.6 percent, while Graham County grapples with the highest unemployment rate in the state, 16.4 percent.

Anson has a labor force of 9,700 workers, of whom 8,507 are employed and 1,193 are searching for work.

The unemployment rate has dropped in the county from 13.8 percent in January and 15.8 percent in March 2010.

A statewide unemployment report for April will be released by the ESC May 20.