As the economic recession drags on, the area’s job picture isn’t getting any brighter.

The unemployment rate in the metro Gainesville area rose to 9.6 percent in June, up from 8.8. percent in May, according to figures released today by the Georgia Department of Labor.

The jobless rate in the Georgia Mountains area rose to 9.9 percent in June, up from 9.1 percent in May.

Kit Dunlap, president of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, said she is looking at the numbers in perspective.

"It’s not unexpected," Dunlap said. "In Gainesville and Hall County, we’re a little bit better than others. Everybody knows that unemployment trends will continue up and when they ease off, I have no idea."

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.1 percent in June, the highest rate ever recorded, up from 9.6 percent in May.

Last month, 483,394 unemployed Georgians were looking for work, an increase of 65 percent from June of 2008. Of those, 33 percent are receiving state unemployment benefits.

The state jobless rate in June 2008 was 6.1 percent.

Statewide, the number of payroll jobs in June decreased 5.1 percent from last year. Most job losses came in professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies, manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, and in the construction industry. Health care and education showed a combined increase of 12,000 jobs.

Dunlap said the chamber is trying to help small businesses at a time when many are losing their jobs by providing workshops on loans, marketing and networking.

"The chamber is doing all we can to have seminars for small businesses," she said.

She said though unemployment is high, there are still positive signs in the business community.

"We are having small businesses open," she said.