Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to drop in February, shedding one tenth of a point to 4.6 percent.
It’s the second straight month of declines after the state labor department revised last year’s slightly more volatile figures to a smooth, 4.9 percent plateau for the entirety of 2015.
The First State’s latest figures are below the national average, which stands at 4.9 percent.
Delaware saw strong gains in retail trade with more modest growth in manufacturing. But the state’s economy also dropped jobs in construction, professional services and healthcare sectors from January to February.
Unseasonably adjusted figures are also down for January.
Wilmington lost three tenths of a point to end at 6.7 percent. Newark dropped an entire percentage point to sit at 4.0 percent unemployment, while Dover sits at 6.0 percent.
Labor officials forecast moderate to strong economic growth for the state.
