MEDIA RELEASE

The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations has announced the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April declined to 4.9 percent from 5.1 percent in March. The last time the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent was in October 2008.

Statewide, there were 614,000 employed and 31,850 unemployed in April, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 645,850.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in April, compared to 7.6 percent in March.

Initial claims increased by 36 or 1.9%, while weeks claims decreased by 2,016 or -14.6% for unemployment benefits compared to one year ago. Between March and April 2013, initial claims rose by 10.9% and weeks claims dropped by 0.3%.

In another measure of employment, total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs rose by 3,000 in April over March.

There were over-the-month job gains in Leisure & Hospitality (+700), Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (+400), Financial Activities (+300), Other Services (+300), and Construction (+200).

Within Leisure & Hospitality, job increases were evenly split between Accommodations and Food Services & Drinking Places.

Employment in Manufacturing remained unchanged.

Over-the-month job losses occurred in Professional & Business Services (-400) and Education & Health Services (-800). Job declines in Ambulatory Health Care Services contributed to a significant portion of the drop in Education & Health Services.

Government employment went up by 2,600 jobs, with shifting seasonal staffing patterns at the Department of Education responsible for the vast majority of the increase.

Among major industry sectors, there has been notable over-the-year job expansion in Construction (+3,300), Leisure & Hospitality (+1,500) and Other Services (+1,500).