MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) – Jobless rates fell in all 12 metro areas in Wisconsin, including Wausau, last month, according to new figures released today by the state workforce development department.

The seasonally unadjusted rate in the Wausau area fell from 8.5 percent in February to 8.2 percent in March. The rate the same time a year ago was 10.9 percent. The metro area’s rate dropped even though employers cut 400 jobs.

Most cities with a population higher than 25,000 people saw their jobless rate drop in March. Wausau still had the eighth highest local jobless rate in the state even though its rate fell from 11 percent in February to 10.6 percent in March. Stevens Point saw its rate climb from 9 percent in February to 9.2 percent in March.

Among counties, Vilas County had the highest jobless rate in the state at 13.5 percent. Dane County had the lowest at 3.6 percent.