OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Newly figures show Oklahoma's unemployment rate declined in March.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reports that the jobless rate declined from 6.5 percent in February to 6.1 percent last month. The unemployment rate in March 2010 was 7.3 percent.

While the unemployment rate declined for the month, the numbers also showed Oklahoma's labor force declined from 1.761 million in March 2010 to 1.737 million in March.

The commission says Oklahoma's seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment added 13,200 jobs from February to March, with the largest gains coming in the construction (3,600) and leisure and hospitality (3,500).

OESC officials say for the March numbers were produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which will be relying less on local knowledge of Oklahoma's economy and more on statistical methodology.