Last modified: Friday, April 25, 2008 1:18 AM EDT Jobless rate up in area in March BY RICK FOSTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Unemployment in Southeastern Massachusetts in March trended higher compared to February and last March, according to the latest statistics from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The unemployment rate in the Providence-Fall River metropolitan statistical area, which includes Attleboro, hit 7.4 percent in March compared with 7.1 percent in February and 7.3 percent for March 2007 on a non-seasonally adjusted basis. The increase bucked statewide figures which shows unemployment steady at 4.4 percent from the previous month, but two-tenths of a percent lower than March 2007. The bump comes on the heels of a report indicating that the Attleboro area ranks among the state's most hard-hit areas for job losses. The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported 2,900 new jobs were added in Massachusetts in March, its largest monthly increase since last November and the sixth consecutive monthly increase in jobs. The Massachusetts rate continues to outperform the national rate which increased from 4.8 percent in February to 5.1 percent in March. The Massachusetts rate has been below the U.S. rate since June 2007. Over the year, the Bay State's unemployment rate dropped two tenths of a percentage point, from 4.6 percent. Statewide, the largest job gains in March were recorded in professional, scientific, and business services and leisure and hospitality. New jobs were also added in the trade, transportation and utilities, information, construction and manufacturing super sectors. Professional, scientific and business services, transportation and leisure and hospitality added large numbers of jobs during the month, while education and health services lost employment. A report released last year by Mass. Inc. indicated that Attleboro lost 3,500 jobs from 2001-2006 as manufacturing and technology jobs continued to leave the area. Only Bedford and Wilmington had larger percentage job outflows. However, some of those losses have been balanced by gains in neighboring communities and an upsurge in retail activity. RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.