Unemployment Rate Drops in Hingham

Hingham's unemployment rate decreased in the last year from 6.3 percent in April 2010 to 5.1 percent in April 2011, according to new information released by the state that shows the town's number is well below both the state and national average.

Overall in Massachusetts, according to a preliminary report released last week by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, unemployment dropped from 8 percent in March 2011 to 7.8 percent in April 2011.

The national unemployment rate in April was 9.0 percent, up .2 percent from March. Gains in Massachusetts came from job sectors such as leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and utilities and education and health care, according to the state. The largest gain in April happened in the Barnstable, Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton areas.

"The recent job statistics serve as hopeful news once again that the Commonwealth is continuing its robust recovery," Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement. "We have added jobs across nearly all sectors, and our unemployment rate has fallen more than a full point below the national average -- signs that our record investments in infrastructure, education and innovation are paying off.

"We also recognize that our work is not done and that there are those out there still seeking a better way. For them, we continue to fight every day to ensure that everyone seeking a job can find one.”

Hingham went from 737 unemployed people in April 2010 to 586 in April 2011, according to data from the state.   The data also showed that Hingham’s unemployment rate was even lower in the month of March when with 578 unemployed people.

Joseph Markman contributed to this report.