Henderson County’s rate of unemployment dipped below 9 percent for the first time this year, according to a report released by the Texas Workforce Commission.

The county’s jobless rate was at 8.8 percent in March, the report says. That figure comes after the area saw 9.4-percent unemployment in January and 9 percent in February.

Henderson County’s unemployment results have been above 8 percent for almost a year.

The last time it was lower was in May 2009 when the jobless rate was at 7.7 percent.

And December 2008 was the last time the area saw an unemployment rate below 7 percent, according to TWC.

In January 2008, the TWC estimated 1,778 county residents were without jobs.

In the latest report, the estimate was placed at 3,132 unemployed workers in March.