Central Oregon unemployment rates for March changed little from the same month a year ago, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday.

In Crook County, the rate was 6.1 percent, essentially unchanged from 6 percent in March 2017.

However, the number of jobs in the county fell by 70 over the year, largely because of a decline in government payrolls, according to an employment department press statement. Crook County was one of five counties in Oregon to post job losses over the past year.

In Deschutes County, the unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, increased slightly from 3.7 percent a year ago. The county gained 940 jobs, more than typically expected in March.

Jefferson County’s unemployment rate stayed unchanged from a year ago at 5.6 percent. The county added 40 jobs, a typical number for March.