Metro Gainesville’s unemployment rate rose to 6.9 percent in April, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 6.8 percent in March, Georgia Department of Labor announced today. The rate was 7.2 percent in April a year ago in the region, which includes all of Hall County.The area's rate increased slightly as the number of new layoffs, as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, increased to 1,476, up 747, or 102.5 percent, from 729 in March. Most of the initial claims were filed in administrative and support services, the DOL reporter.