Michigan’s unemployment rate continues moving higher.

For the third consecutive month, the state’s jobless rate rose, according to figures released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. The unemployment rate finished the month at 5.5%, up a tenth from February and well above the national rate of 4.2%.

The national rate also increased by one-tenth from February.

“Michigan’s unemployment rate increased for the third consecutive month during March,” Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for Michigan’s Center for Data and Analytics, said. “Payroll jobs declined this month led by losses in the manufacturing and professional and business services sectors.”

Michigan’s unemployment rate increase of 1.3% over the last year also outpaced the national increase of 0.3%.

Michigan’s labor force rose 1.2% over the past year but is still 0.4% below the national average.

The March statewide labor force participation rate was the same as February at 62%, but the employment-to-population ratio fell by 0.1.

A monthly survey of employers showed nonfarm payroll jobs fell by 5,000 between February and March. That’s the first decline after four months of growth.