The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate decreased to 5.1 percent in February, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.4 percent in January. The rate was 6.2 percent in February a year ago.

The rate declined because Athens employers created 1,500 new jobs and reduced the number of new layoffs by 32 percent.

The number of jobs increased to 89,800 in February, up 1.7 percent, from 88,300 in January. The job gains came mostly in state government, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services. Over the year, the number of jobs increased by 1,100, or 1.2 percent, from 88,700 in February 2013. Most of the increase came in trade, transportation, and warehousing.

There were 508 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in February, a drop of 239 from 747 in January. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing, administrative and support services, and accommodations and food services. There were 510 claims in February 2013.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.1 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 7.1 percent, down from 7.3 percent in January. The rate was 8.5 percent in February a year ago.