Douglas County had the lowest unemployment rate in March among the state’s metro areas, the Kansas Department of Labor said Friday.

The Lawrence area’s rate was 4 percent last month, up from 3.8 percent in February but down from 4.2 percent in March 2005.

Statewide, Kansas’ jobless rate fell to 4.9 percent in March, down from 5 percent in February and better than the 5.3 percent for March 2005.

Rates for other metro areas, compared with February and a year earlier:

Kansas City: 5.2 percent, down from 5.5 percent and 5.7 percent.

Topeka: 5.3 percent, unchanged and then down from 5.7 percent.