NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's unemployment dropped slightly in April, marking the ninth straight month of decreases in the state's unemployment rate.

The 7.8 percent unemployment rate is down from 7.9 percent in March and the lowest it's been since November 2008.

Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis said in a release that the decrease in the jobless rate is largely caused by fewer people seeking work.

The national unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in April, also 0.1 percentage point lower than the previous month.

State manufacturing jobs saw the biggest increase compared with last month, at a growth rate of 1.8 percent. Next were jobs in trade, transportation and utilities at 1.6 percent and positions in the leisure and hospitality sector at 1.5 percent.