ST. PAUL — Minnesota has gained 6,100 jobs in August, driving down the state’s unemployment rate to 4.3 percent.

State officials released the updated employment figures Thursday, noting that its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had fallen to its lowest level in eight years. The national average unemployment rate for August was 6.1 percent.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development numbers show construction and business services jobs were responsible for more than 80 percent of August’s job gains. Only financial activities and hospitality and leisure sectors reported job losses in August.

Yearly figures show government has added nearly 18,000 jobs in Minnesota in the past year, the largest gains. Only two sectors — financial services and other services — have reported net job losses over the last year.