Austin’s and Mower County’s jobless rates fell slightly in March, according to data released Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Austin’s non-seasonably adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 percent last month, compared to 5.8 percent in February and 6.6 percent in March 2011. Austin had a labor force of 13,638 people in March, according to the data, with 774 unemployed.

Mower County’s jobless rate was also 5.7 percent last month, a drop from 5.9 percent in February and the 6.1 percent mark in March 2011.

Minnesota’s non-seasonably adjusted rate was 6.5 percent in March, and the national average was 8.4 percent, or 8.2 percent seasonably adjusted.

Albert Lea’s unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in March, and Rochester’s was 5.1.