Metro Gainesville’s unemployment rate in February was 4.1 percent, down six-tenths of a percentage point from 4.7 percent in January, according to Georgia Department of Labor statistics released Thursday. The metro Gainesville stats cover all of Hall County.

In February 2016, the rate was 4.5 percent.

The rate declined as more people went to work, employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers and the labor force grew.  

The number of employed residents increased by 679 to 93,949, as the labor force grew by 51 to 97,969. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs.

The number of jobs increased by 500, or 0.6 percent, to 88,100. The job growth came in the service industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

Over the year, 2,800 jobs were added, a 3.3 percent growth rate, up from 85,300 in February 2016. The job growth came in services, including trade, transportation and warehousing, and the goods-producing sector.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, declined by 660, or 53.4 percent, to 575. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing, administrative and support services, trade, transportation and warehousing. Over the year, claims were down by 227, or 28.3 percent, from 802 in February 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.1 percent.