Colorado's unemployment rate remained unchanged from February to March, but is better than the state's unemployment rate one year ago, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment announced Friday.

Colorado's unemployment rate remained at 7.8 percent in March, one of 23 states to post numbers below the national average of 8.2 percent. March 2011, Colorado had an 8.5 percent unemployment rate.

The state made the largest job gains in leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, education and health services.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Pacific region continues to be the hardest hit, with a 10.2 percent overall unemployment rate. Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 12.0 percent, followed by Rhode Island and California at 11.1 and 11.0 percent respectively.

North Dakota continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 3.0 percent, followed by Nebraska at 4.0 percent.