BOSTON—The Massachusetts unemployment rate has dropped to a near three-year low of 7 percent.

The November rate was down from 7.3 percent in the previous month, with the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development reporting an estimated increase of about 5,000 jobs last month.

The jobless rate was the lowest monthly figure since December 2008.

Massachusetts also remains well below the national unemployment rate, which stood at 8.6 percent in November.

Officials said six of the 10 major private employment sectors added jobs last month, with the biggest gains in leisure and hospitality, followed by the trade, transportation and utilities and the education and health services sectors.

According to Thursday's report, Massachusetts has gained more than 56,000 private sector jobs in the past 12 months.

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