Michigan's unemployment rate fell to 10.3 percent in March, according to statistics released today by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.

Michigan added about 7,000 net new jobs from February to March, according to the state government's statistics. Of those new jobs, 4,000 were added in the professional and business services sector.

The jobless rate fell from 10.4 percent in February and 13.3 percent in March 2010.

“Michigan’s labor market indicators have shown steady improvement in the first three months of 2011,” said Rick Waclawek, director of DELEG’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, in a statement.

The new statistics come after University of Michigan economists said earlier this month that they expect the state to add 126,100 jobs in 2011 and 2012. That's 38,600 more jobs than they had previously predicted.

Over the last year, the professional and business services sector has added 39,000 jobs, manufacturers have added 30,000 and the education and health services sector has added 14,000.

Despite the job market's improvement, the state's unemployment rate has been above 10 percent for 28 straight months.

The national unemployment rate in March was 8.8 percent. Washtenaw County's rate in February was 6.5 percent.

Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.