The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.7 percent in April, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 6.9 percent in March. The rate was 7.5 percent in April a year ago.

The rate declined because Metro Valdosta employers created 300 more jobs. The number of jobs increased to 54,400 in April, up from 54,100 in March. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation, and warehousing, along with other service-related industries.

Over the year, the number of jobs increased by 500, or 0.9 percent, from 53,900 jobs in April 2013. The big job gainers were trade, transportation and warehousing, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

Also, there were 408 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in April, an increase of two, or 0.5 percent, from 406 in March. Most of the increase in claims came in retail trade. There were 635 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.