While Mercer County's jobless rate fell in April there were signs the lackluster economy has taken a toll on manufacturing, as 700 fewer people are working in local factories than a year ago.

The county's jobless rate stood at 5.2 percent in April, down from the revised March rate of 5.9 percent. April's rate was below the state's 5.5 percent rate and the national 5.8 percent rate.

A year ago the county's unemployment rate was 5 percent. But local manufacturing has borne the brunt of the national recession, said the state Department of Labor and Industry, which released the local jobless figures on Tuesday.