North Andover Unemployment Rate Drops Again

The nation's unemployment rate may still be above 8 percent, but North Andover has something to smile about. The unemployment numbers for March show that locally the rate has dropped to 5.1 percent.

That is down from 5.7 percent the previous month and 6.3 percent in March 2011.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development released the stats, which showed that statewide the unemployment rate had dropped from 7.5 percent in February to 6.4 percent in March. And unemployment rates were down in all 22 labor areas.

North Andover is in one of the geographical areas with the biggest boost in jobs since last year. In March 2011, the North Andover labor force was at 13,270 people. Last month, it was at 13,945.

Other communities in the area saw decline in unemployment as well, even in cities where the rate is still high, such as Haverhill and Lawrence.

Andover's unemployment rate, 4.2 percent, is much lower than even the state average.