Santa Clarita’s unemployment rate fell to 7.3 percent in March after holding at 7.4 percent in January and February, according to Friday’s figures from the California Employment Development Department.

“It is good news that the Santa Clarita unemployment dropped in March and is lower than March 2011,” said Jason Crawford,  the city of Santa Clarita’s economic development manager. “We expect that more people in Santa Clarita that are looking for work will find it, with new businesses moving into town such as Precision Dynamics, and other businesses like Aerospace Dynamics International adding positions with their expansion.”

Unemployment across Los Angeles County remained unchanged at 11.8 percent in March, while the state worsened to 11 percent from 10.9 percent in February. The nation’s unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent in March, an improvement of 0.1 percent on the month and 0.7 percent on the year.

Nine of 11 job sectors showed improvement in Los Angeles County in March. Leading the way was the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 5,600 jobs, of which 5,200 were in accommodations and food services.

Government was the county’s No. 2 growth leader, adding a net of 5,200 jobs over the month. Within the government sector, the bulk of the new jobs were in local government (4,700), which includes public education.

Private education grew, as well (1,100 jobs), while health care and social assistance added 3,600 positions, professional and business services added 4,400, and the trade-transportation-utilities sector added 4,300.

The motion picture and television industry was Los Angeles County’s loss leader in March as 14,400 positions were slashed from payrolls. Overall, the information sector (which includes motion picutres) lost 14,900 jobs.