NSW is in the grip of an employment boom, with more than 100,000 jobs created in the past 12 months, according to the State Government.

The state's unemployment rate has fallen to a record low of 4.2 per cent, now reaching the national average for the first time after years of languishing at the bottom of the national league.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures has revealed that 101,400 jobs were created in NSW in the 12 months to February. This represents a 3.1% rise in jobs growth for 2007.

Not surprisingly, most were created in Sydney, which saw over half of the creation of the new jobs. Also the Hunter region, including Newcastle, was also booming with a rise of 27,000 jobs.

The growth areas were transport and storage (up 14.2%), retail trade (up 7.7%), health and community services (up 5.7%), manufacturing (up 5.5%), construction (up 4.8%) and education (up 4.8%).

The snapshot compiled by the Department of State and Regional Development revealed:

SYDNEY: 51,800 new jobs;

GOSFORD-Wyong: 6200 new jobs;

HUNTER: 27,000 new jobs;

NORTHERN/Far West/North Western/Central West: 17,600 new jobs and;

MURRAY Murrumbidgee: 22,000 new jobs.

State Development Minister Ian Macdonald said: "The good news on NSW employment continues with the state's unemployment rate reaching a 30-year low of 4.2 per cent in February.

"The employment growth benefited a number of sectors of our economy and demonstrates how the Iemma Government is delivering more jobs."

But opposition finance spokesman Mike Baird protested that "We have got to the point that the Iemma Government is applauding itself for almost achieving a national average. We should be seeking not to be average but to be the best," he said.