U.S. unemployment falls to 6.3% in April

As employers added some 288,000 jobs in April, the national unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 percent, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That's down from 6.7 percent in March. The number of unemployed in the country, 9.8 million, decreased by 733,000 month to month. Those marginally attached to the workforce - unemployed who have looked for jobs in the last year - totaled 2.2 million, a slight decrease, according to a news release.

The BLS pointed to growth in the professional and business services, retail trade, food services and drinking places, and construction industries.

Professional and business services employers added 75,000 jobs in April, led by a 24,000-job increase in temporary help services, according to the release.

Retail trade employment increased by 35,000 in April. Within the industry, food and beverage stores added 9,000 jobs, general merchandise stores added 8,000 jobs, motor vehicle and parts dealers contributed 6,000 jobs and nonstore retailers tacked on 4,000 positions.

Employment in the food services and drinking places industry rose by 33,000 jobs, nearly in line with its 12-month average gain of 28,000 per month, according to the BLS.

Construction employers added 32,000 jobs last month, with the most added in heavy and civil engineering construction, at 11,000, and residential building, at 7,000.