Massachusetts unemployment falls to 5.1 percent in January, lowest since 2008

The Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level in more than six years in January as the state gained an estimated 2,600 jobs.

The office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Tuesday that the January jobless rate of 5.1 percent was down two-tenths of a point from the previous month.

The latest report shows Massachusetts has picked up an estimated 56,000 private sector jobs in the last 12 months, with gains in all sectors of the economy except for manufacturing.

The January unemployment rate was the lowest since May 2008.

The national jobless rate stood at 5.7 percent in January and dropped to 5.5 percent in February.

Massachusetts will release its February jobs figures later this month.