The Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday released monthly regional employment data which showed job numbers in the North and North-East rose to 65,200 in March.

This dropped the unemployment rate by 0.3 per cent to 7.2 per cent.

This was in line with the unemployment rate 12 months ago.

The unemployment rate for males in the region remained higher than for females.

Meanwhile statewide, youth unemployment also dropped though more 15 to 25-year-olds remain in part-time work than full-time work.