Arizona jobless rate inches up to 9.6 pct in March

PHOENIX

Arizona's unemployment rate inched upward in March as the construction industry slipped again and schools' spring breaks took a toll on local government employment.

The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in March, up from 9.5 percent in February while the national rate remained unchanged at 9.7 percent.

Government and construction lost 2,400 and 2,300 jobs, respectively. But statewide employment increased by 4,900.

The sector with the biggest gain was leisure and hospitality, which added 5,600 jobs thanks largely to visitors traveling to Arizona for baseball's spring training.

The construction losses in March eclipsed gains that hard-hit sector had in February.