The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.3 percent in April, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 6.6 percent in March. The rate was 7.6 percent in April a year ago.

The rate declined because Metro Augusta employers created 4,700 more jobs. The number of jobs increased to 221,600 in April, up from 216,900 in March. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and retail trade. The number of jobs was down 300 from 221,900 in April 2013.

Also, there were 1,534 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in April, an increase of 367, or 31.4 percent, from 1,167 in March. Most of the increase in claims came in manufacturing, administrative and support services, and accommodations and food services. There were 1,877 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.