The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate decreased to 4.9 percent in April, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 5.1 percent in March. The rate was 5.6 percent in April a year ago.

The rate declined because Metro Athens employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers.

The number of jobs increased to 90,400 in April, up by 700, or 0.8 percent, from 89,700 in March. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, and state government.

Over the year, the number of jobs increased by 800, or 0.9 percent, from 89,600 jobs in April 2013. The big job gainers were trade, transportation, and warehousing, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

Also, there were 355 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in April, a drop of 125, or 26 percent, from 480 in March. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing, along with real estate, rental and leasing. There were 548 claims filed in April 2013.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.9 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 8.8 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was 7.0 percent, unchanged from March. The rate was 8.3 percent in April a year ago.