Topeka ? Seasonal factors, including a return of good weather, helped nudge the state’s jobless rate lower in April, officials said Friday.

Kansas’ unemployment rate slipped to 4.8 percent in April, down from 4.9 percent in March. The rate compares with the 6 percent national jobless rate for April and the state’s 5 percent rate for a year ago.

The Lawrence area-Douglas County unemployment rate fell to 4 percent from 4.3 percent.

Bill Layes, chief of labor market information for the Department of Human Resources, said for the first four months of 2003 Kansas’ unemployment rate has averaged 5 percent, compared to 5.3 percent for the same period of 2002.

First-time claims for jobless benefits dropped by 1,200 in April, to 13,610.

“While we’re not totally optimistic, hopefully we have bottomed out,” said Layes, cautioning that a weakness in the aviation industry remains a concern.

Unemployment is expected to continue to decline in May, then increase in June with the traditional summer influx of students into the work force. Layes said a concern is the 6,000 workers at Cessna in Wichita who will be furloughed for six to seven weeks.

The jobless rate for the Wichita metropolitan area, which includes Sedgwick, Harvey and Butler counties, was 6 percent in April, down from 6.1 percent a month earlier and 6.4 percent in April 2002.

Statewide, nonfarm payroll increased by 5,900 jobs in April, rising to 1.336 million. Construction added 3,200 jobs, while the leisure and hospitality sector added 2,700. Both increases were related to the start of better weather and outdoor activities.