ATLANTA -- The unemployment rate in Gainesville rose two-tenths of a percent in July to a rate of 5.4 percent, the Georgia Department of Labor reported today.

The overall number of jobs in metro Gainesville was down 100 in July, one-tenth of a percent, from 77,500 to 77,400.

Though higher, that jobless rate still ranks below the Georgia Mountains region unemployment rate of 5.7 percent and the state rate of 6.2 percent.

"We are experiencing a rising tide of unemployment not seen in Georgia in more than 15 years," State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said in a news release. "The surge of jobless workers into our career centers is challenging our ability to keep pace with the demand for assistance at a time when it is most needed. We ask our customers for their patience and cooperation as we work together to meet and overcome these economic challenges."

The state jobless rate was up six-tenths of a percent from 5.6 percent in June, and topped the national rate of 5.7 percent for the sixth month in a row. The 6.2 percent rate is Georgia's highest recorded since March 1993.

The labor department reports that 304,536 Georgians are looking for work. The state's unemployment insurance claims indicator rose by 30 percent in July.

Raw data show that Georgia lost 46,600 payroll jobs from June to July, a decrease of 1.1 percent. Those job losses came in all major industries: manufacturing, construction, trade, and services.
Georgia labor market data are available at the department Web site.