The District’s unemployment rate fell to 9.5 percent in April, down from 9.8 percent the previous month, according to figures the federal government released Friday.

The city’s economy, which took a particularly hard hit from the recession, has consistently reported one of the country’s highest unemployment rates. 

In Maryland, unemployment inched upward to 6.7 percent in April. In March, the state reported a 6.6 percent unemployment rate.

Virginia’s unemployment picture was stable, with the Old Dominion again recording a 5.6 percent unemployment rate.

The national unemployment rate is 8.1 percent.