HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Preliminary estimates show Connecticut's unemployment rate in March increased slightly from February, despite 300 new non-farm jobs.

The new, seasonally adjusted rate of 5.7 percent announced Thursday marks an increase of two-tenths of a percentage point from February.

Andy Condon, director of the Department of Labor's Office of Research, said while the rise in the unemployment rate was "unexpected," there are still "some positive aspects to the move."

He pointed out how the uptick in the unemployment rate occurred in a growing labor force. He say that means it was driven by more people entering the labor force looking for work rather than a decrease in the number of people who are employed.

Condon said job growth is occurring, but not fast enough to employ those entering the market.