Sixty area residents lost their jobs in March, but state officials say job listings are consistent.

Coos County's seasonably adjusted unemployment rate rose more than a percentage point in March to 13.7 percent, up from 12.2 percent in February. Guy Tauer, State Unemployment Office regional economist said the unemployment rate hasn't been that high in 24 years. But regional manager Kathie Creasey said the number of job listings has remained consistent over the last month, with 100 jobs listed on March 24 and 102 on Monday.

Although many of the employers are not hiring highly skilled workers, Creasey said people are not being picky.

"There are so many who are unemployed," Creasey said. "People are lucky if they're getting interviewed."

March's raw unemployment rate for Coos County was estimated at 15 percent. In March 1985 the raw unemployment rate was 15.4 percent.

The seasonal adjustment takes into consideration economic fluctuations due to weather, where raw unemployment rates do not. Prior to a few years ago the employment department didn't post seasonal fluctuations, Tauer said.

Employers have cut 60 jobs in Coos County over the month -Êand 600 over the year. In March, the tourism industry lost 40 positions, educational and health services fell by 20 jobs and local education went down 50 jobs.

The losses were offset by an increase of 20 jobs in retail trade.

Industries that declined the most over the year are tourism with 230 jobs lost, construction, 140; manufacturing, 110; and there are 70 fewer jobs in Indian tribal government.

"That's really the trend we've been seeing across the state," Tauer said.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 12.1 last week. The nation's unemployment rate was determined to be 8.5 percent, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

Over the year, Coos County saw slight gains in retail trade, educational and health services, federal government and local government education, with each sector gaining 30 jobs. Unemployment in Coos County was at a seasonally adjusted rate of 7.2 in March 2008.

Creasey confirmed what the numbers already said - declines in construction and wood manufacturing came at the beginning of the economic downturn and now is rippling into other sectors.

"Before, when it started, it was construction and timber, and now we're just seeing trickle down effects as a result of the overall loss to the community," Creasey said.

Curry County's seasonably adjusted unemployment rate climbed from 12.4 to 13.1 percent from February to March, with raw unemployment rates going from 14.7 to 15.2 percent in the same months. The county gained 40 payroll jobs in March, 30 of them in tourism and food services.

Curry County has lost 220 jobs in the past year. Construction lost 60 jobs, manufacturing, 80; retail trade, 40; financial activities, 20; and health care, 20. Local government gained 30 jobs, with slight gains in professional and business services, information and tourism.