Covington County’s jobless rate fell to 8.6 percent in March, more than a full percentage point lower than the same period last year and one of the lowest rates recorded in two years.

It was also lower than the state’s unemployment rate for March, which was 9.2 percent.

March’s rate represents 1,386 unemployed person in Covington County, down from 1,555 last month and down from the 1,577 recorded in March 2010.

Covington County’s rate was lower than the rates of most its neighbors.

Coffee County had the second-lowest unemployment rate in the state at 6.8 percent. Geneva County recorded an 8.4 percent rate; Escambia County was 10.2; Conecuh County was 14.98; Butler County’s was 11.0; and Crenshaw County’s was 9.2 percent.

Wilcox County had the highest unemployment rate at 20.0 percent.