CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire’s unemployment rate for March was 2.6%, according to a survey that predated many business closures due to the coronavirus.
The unemployment rate was unchanged from the February rate. A year ago, the rate was 2.5%.
The survey covered businesses through March 12. Many businesses closed after that date because of state emergency orders regarding the coronavirus. One requiring nonessential businesses to close was issued March 26. The state has received over 100,000 new unemployment claims since March 17.
According to the survey, the state estimated that 748,970 people were employed last month, a decrease of 10,630 from February and 2,290 from a year ago.
Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 4.4%. That was nearly a percentage point higher than the February rate and an increase of 0.6 percentage points from the previous year.
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