BOSTON (AP) — State officials say the Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped to 8 percent in March as 3,200 jobs were added during the month.

The March rate was down from 8.2 percent in February and 8.7 percent at this time last year.

Massachusetts also remains well below the current national unemployment rate of 8.8 percent.

The state Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday that the largest employment gain was in the Leisure and Hospitality sector, while the construction industry had the biggest percentage increase of 1.4 percent.

Manufacturing, education and health services also posted jobs gains in March, while government, transportation and financial services were among the sectors that lost jobs.

The state said more than 3.2 million Massachusetts residents had jobs last month, while about 282,000 were out of work.