Hawaii still has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country, but a new state has taken the lead.

Colorado’s unemployment rate plunged to 2.6 percent in March from 2.9 percent the previous month to surge past Hawaii for the lowest jobless rate, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

On Thursday the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced that Hawaii’s unemployment rate had fallen to 2.7 percent in March after being at 2.8 percent the previous two months.

New Hampshire, which in February had the lowest rate at 2.7 percent, North Dakota and South Dakota were tied for the third lowest in March at 2.8 percent. The highest rate was in New Mexico, at 6.7 percent.

Overall, unemployment rates fell to record lows in four U.S. states in March after months of steady job creation nationwide.

Unemployment rates fell in 17 states in March and were mostly unchanged in 33, the Labor Department said. Employers added a significant number of jobs in just three states last month and cut them in four. Employment was mostly unchanged in the other 43 states. Hiring nationwide was weak in March but strong in the previous two months.

Arkansas, Colorado, Maine and Oregon reported the lowest unemployment rates since 1976.

Nationwide, employers added just 98,000 jobs in March, far below January’s and February’s totals. But hiring has averaged about 175,000 jobs in the first three months of the year, similar to last year’s pace. And the unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent from 4.7 percent as more Americans found jobs.

ON THE MOVE

>> Dr. Annie Wang specialized in dermatology at Kaiser Permanente’s Honolulu Medical Office. Wang finished her dermatology residency at Alpert Medical School of Brown University as well as Rhode Island Hospital Dermatology Program, serving as a chief resident.

>> Catholic Charities Hawaii has named Mary Leong Saunders vice president for philanthropy as of May 1. Her responsibilities include providing guidance and leadership for all fund development and community engagement activities and programs. Saunders previously served as executive director of Family Promise of Hawaii, executive director of the Rotary Club of Honolulu and state supervisor of the National Assessment of Education Progress.

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