BOSTON – Preliminary April 2012 estimates show that Massachusetts added 2,500 jobs over the month, for a total of 3.24 million jobs, according to the Mass. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The total unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 percent, 0.2 percentage points below the March rate of 6.5 percent and below the national rate of 8.1 percent. The April gain also followed a revised 7,500-job gain in March.

The private sector added 3,400 jobs in April. Five of the 10 private sectors added jobs: professional, scientific, and business services; trade, transportation, and utilities; information; leisure and hospitality; and financial activities.

Since Jan. 1, Massachusetts has added 31,100 jobs. The private sector added 33,400 jobs.

Jobs are up 27,400 compared with April 2011. The private sector added 31,000 jobs in that time frame.

The largest gain came in the professional, scientific and business-services sector, which added 4,200 jobs over the month. Trade, transportation and utilities added 900.

Construction lost 1,300 jobs over the month, while manufacturing lost 1,200 jobs.

The April 2012 estimates show 3.2 million Massachusetts residents were employed and 216,200 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3.45 million. •