The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Macon’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.0 percent in April, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 7.3 percent in March. The rate was 8.2 percent in April a year ago.

The rate declined because Metro Macon employers created 500 more jobs. The number of jobs increased to 99,000 in April, up from 98,500 in March. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation, and warehousing, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

Over the year, the number of jobs increased by 300, or 0.3 percent, from 98,700 jobs in April 2013. The big job gainers were trade, transportation, and warehousing, along with professional and business services.

Also, there were 797 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in April, an increase of four, or 0.5 percent, from 793 in March. Most of the increase in claims came in wholesale trade. There were 1,048 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.