The Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area's unemployment rate fell below 5 percent in April, according to the latest state statistics.

The MSA's rate was 4.7 percent, compared to 5.2 last month and 5.1 in April 2015, a news release from the N.C. Department of Commerce said Wednesday. Some economists consider a rate of 5 percent to represent full employment. 

The latest unemployment rates, which have not been seasonally adjusted, also fell in year-over-year and month-over-month comparisons in the individual counties that make up the Wilmington MSA -- New Hanover and Pender counties. 

In New Hanover County, the rate declined from 5.1 percent in March this year to 4.6 percent in April, compared to 4.9 percent in April 2015. Brunswick County's rate decreased to 6 percent, from 6.7 percent in March this year and 6.6 percent in April 2015, according to the release.

Over the month, net industry employment increased in 12 of 15 MSAs in North Carolina, with Wilmington experiencing the greatest percentage increase at 2.2 percent, the release said. April's largest increase in total non-farm employment in the Wilmington MSA came from the leisure and hospitality sector, which jumped 9.4 percent compared to March this year and 3.3 percent compared to last year, according to a state labor market conditions chart.

Statewide in April, unemployment rates decreased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties increased in three, and remained unchanged in two, according to the release.

Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 9.5 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.7 percent. The April not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5 percent, the release said.