Spring has sprung, and jobs are growing.

The state Department of Labor released a report today showing that Connecticut picked up 6,300 jobs in April. So far this year, the state has added 9,600 positions.

Last month's unemployment rate held firm at 8 percent, however.

"Connecticut's job growth momentum picked up considerably last month," Andy Condon, director of the Labor Department's research office, said in a statement. "The state appears to be experiencing a solid and more typical spring seasonal job buildup."

Both government and private-sector jobs rose last month. Government jobs grew by 500, while private-sector employment saw an uptick of 5,800.

Jobs in the Norwich-New London region bucked the statewide trend, recording a loss of 200 positions between March and April. The 127,100 jobs in the region during April was a decline of 1,200 compared with the same month last year.