The unemployment rate in Massachusetts dropped to 8 percent in March, a 0.2 percentage point from February’s 8.2 percent rate, according to the commonwealth’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Department.

Massachusetts’ rate remains below the national rate of 8.8 percent and is 0.7 of a percentage point less than the 8.7 percent rate in March 2010. The state’s three-month average seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate was 8.2 percent and the six-month average was 8.3 percent

Preliminary March job estimates show 3.2 million jobs in Massachusetts, an increase of 3,200 jobs, according to a statement.