The unemployment rate in the metro Gainesville area rose to 9.3 percent in June, up from a revised 8.8 percent the previous month, the Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday.

The number of unemployed workers in the metro area increased to 8,081, up 367 from 7,714. The June rate is preliminary and unadjusted.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 10 percent in June, down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.1 percent in May. It marks the 33rd straight month that Georgia’s rate has exceeded the national jobless figure, now 9.5 percent.

The jobless rate in metro Gainesville, which includes all of Hall County, was 9.5 percent in June 2009.

The number of payroll jobs in the state in June decreased 9,400, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,838,400 in May to 3,829,000. And, the number of jobs remains less than in June 2009, when there were 3,878,600 payroll jobs, 1.3 percent, or 49,600 more than this year.

In Hall County, the number of payroll jobs decreased 600, or eight-tenths of a percentage point, from 71,300 in May to 70,700.

The U.S Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Georgia lost more jobs from June 2009 to June 2010 than any other state but California.

"This latest federal report further emphasizes the severity of the crisis facing Georgia’s economy," Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said."A sharp increase in the number of discouraged workers, rising long-term unemployment, increased new layoffs, and anemic job growth suggests that the fledgling economic recovery may be losing steam."

In June, 881 laid-off workers in metro Gainesville filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, a decrease of 48, or 5.2 percent, from 929 in May.

Statewide, 64,794 laid-off workers filed initial claims for benefits, an increase of 6,875, or 11.9 percent, from 57,919 in May.

However, there was a decline of 23,962 initial claims, or 27.0 percent, from 88,756 filed in June 2009. Most of the first-time claims were filed in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction, and administrative and support services.

The jobless rate in the Georgia Mountains area rose to 9.4 percent in June, up four-tenths of a point from 9 percent in May. The number of unemployed workers rose 1.139 to 27,624.

Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at the GDOL website.