The latest state unemployment rates are quite encouraging.

The rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point to 5.1 percent in March and more importantly, the rate dropped in all 83 Michigan counties.

“It is very encouraging to see unemployment rates drop across all 17 employment regions of our state,” Gov. Rick Snyder said. “As we continue down this path toward our future, we must remember that to truly reinvent Michigan, we must make sure every sector of the state is part of the reinvention. Michigan is truly at its best when we come together as one to help with success for all.”

Locally, Alpena County came in at an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent in March, Alcona County at 8.1 percent, Montmorency County at 12.1 percent and Presque Isle County at 12.2 percent.

It should be noted the March total employment rate in Michigan of 4,666,000 was the highest number posted since April 2007, although it is still well below the record high of 5,004,000 in March 2000.

Our spirits are lifted by the statistics. Obviously there still is work that needs done to reduce those numbers even further, but it seems we are trending in the right direction and it sure beats the numbers from years past.

Any step forward has to be met with optimism, and thus, we celebrate this achievement this morning.