Employers in Mecklenburg, Brunswick and Halifax counties added another 378 jobs in March, a sign the labor market remains strong in the three counties that make up the Southside Planning District.

Payrolls grew by 117 jobs in Mecklenburg County, 207 in Halifax County and 54 in Brunswick County in March, according to the latest numbers released by the Virginia Employment Commission on May 3.

This is the third consecutive month of job growth for all three counties.

The labor force participation rate also rose in the three counties during that same period as 285 active workers joined the civilian labor force — 98 in Mecklenburg, 159 in Halifax and 28 in Brunswick County.