Colorado’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.6 percent in March, the lowest in the U.S. and the lowest since the state started tracking employment in 1976.

The unemployment rate dropped 0.3 of a percentage point last month from February even as the number of people actively participating in the labor force went up by 10,500 to 2,933,300.

Total nonfarm payroll jobs were unchanged from February to March in Colorado, according to a state survey of businesses. Private sector payroll jobs increased by 100 and government decreased by 100, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said Friday.

Arkansas, Maine and Oregon also reported their lowest unemployment rates since 1976.

The U.S. Department of Labor says unemployment rates fell in 17 total states in March and were mostly unchanged in 33.

The Colorado unemployment rate was unchanged between January and February — at 2.9 percent — after dropping below 3 percent in January during a hiring wave that brought the statistic to its lowest level since 2001.

The state says the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased by 19,500 to 2,857,600 in March, causing the number of unemployed to decrease 9,000 and the unemployment rate to decline.

The national unemployment rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point in March to 4.5 percent.

Over the year in Colorado, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased to 32.8 hours from 33.3 and average hourly earnings increased to $27.35 from $27.31, the labor department said.

The largest over the month private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, financial activities, and education and health services, the state reports. The largest over the month declines were in construction and professional and business services.

Over the year, Colorado’s unemployment rate is down 0.7 of a percentage point from 3.3 percent. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force this year has increased 59,200, total employment increased 79,500 and the number of unemployed decreased 20,300.

The national unemployment rate declined to 4.5 percent in March from 5 percent in March 2016.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.