The Georgia Department of Labor reported this morning that the unemployment rate in metro Gainesville rose to a preliminary unadjusted rate of 6.3 percent in October, up 2.8 percentage points over the year from October 2007. The jobless rate in metro Gainesville rose 0.6 percent from a revised 5.7 percent in September.

Meanwhile, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7 percent in October, the highest rate in more than 16 years. The jobless rate was up 2.5 percentage points from 4.5 percent at this same time last year. The October unemployment rate was up 0.6 percent from a revised 6.4 percent in September.

At present, 343,093 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.

"I commend our state's Congressional delegation and President Bush for approving extended unemployment insurance benefits for the more than 90,000 Georgians who may be eligible under the new law," said Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "This is welcomed and much-needed financial assistance, as they search for new jobs."

The department announced that benefit recipients who have already exhausted their claims and meet eligibility requirements under the new legislation will receive written notification, an application and instructions on how to apply.