In its latest monthly unemployment update, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said that preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 8,100 jobs in March and the state’s unemployment dropped from 6.5 percent to 6.3 percent.

Massachusetts’ unemployment rate had been as high as 7.1 percent in recent months, making it higher than the national average unemployment rate for the first time in six years. Currently the national unemployment rate is 6.7 percent.

In addition to the estimated increase of 8,100 jobs in March, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised its February estimates to show a net gain of 5,500 jobs in February, up from the previous estimate of 3,800 jobs. State officials say Massachusetts has seen a net gain of 50,400 jobs in the past 12 months.

The biggest job gains were in the Education and Health Services sector, which added 5,700 jobs in March.