Montana's unemployment rate dipped slight to 6.1 percent in April.

The Montana Department of Labor says the rate fell after holding steady the two previous months at 6.2 percent. The rate has dropped almost a full percentage point since last August.

Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly says the overall number of people employed in Montana has continued to increase for 10 straight months. He says he is confident about the state's economic situation.

The state estimates there was an increase of 300 seasonally-adjusted payroll jobs in April.

The national unemployment rate declined slightly to 8.1 percent.