Metro Gainesville’s unemployment rate in May was 3.9 percent, unchanged from April, according to Georgia Department of Labor figures released Thursday.

The 3.9 percent figure in April was the lowest since November 2007.

In May 2016, the rate was 4 percent.

While the rate was unchanged, employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers, the number of employed residents rose and the labor force grew.

The number of jobs in metro Gainesville, which includes all of Hall County, increased by 900, or 1 percent, to 89,800. The job growth came in the service-providing industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

Over the year, a total of 3,500 jobs were added, a 4.1 percent growth rate, up from 86,300 in May 2016. Job growth came in services such as trade, transportation and warehousing, state government, and manufacturing and construction.

There were 846 more Hall residents employed in May than in April, pushing the total number to 95,369. The increase in the number of employed residents in May grew by 3,774 from May 2016.

From April to May, the labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 911 to 99,220. As the number of employed residents rose, the number of unemployed also increased by 65 to 3,851.

Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 3,776. The number of employed grew by 3,774, and there were two more unemployed.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 192, or 35.4 percent, to 351. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 285, or 44.8 percent, from 636 in May 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.9 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6 percent.