The New England unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent in April, down nearly 1 percent from the same month one year ago, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday.

The region’s jobless rate was 7 percent in April 2013 and 6.3 percent in March 2014. The national jobless rate fell to 6.3 percent in April and was 1.2 percentage points lower than in April 2013.

In Massachusetts, the unemployment rate was 6 percent in April, down from 7 percent in April 2013. In March, the Bay State’s jobless rate was 6.3 percent.

Three of the six New England states posted jobless rates that were significantly different from the national jobless rate in April. Vermont (3.3 percent) and New Hampshire (4.4 percent) recorded significantly lower unemployment rates and were among 19 states in the country to do so. Conversely, Rhode Island again posted the highest jobless rate in the country at 8.3 percent.

Both Massachusetts and Rhode Island saw significant drops in unemployment over the month, declining 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.

Five New England states saw sizable drops in their jobless rates over the year: Maine (1.1 percent), Massachusetts (1 percent) and Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont (0.9 percent each).

New England is one of nine geographic divisions nationwide. In April, the Pacific division continued to have the highest jobless rate at 7.4 percent. The West North Central division again had the lowest unemployment rate, 5 percent.