February showed good signs of economic recovery nationwide, with more jobs and a drop in unemployment to 8.9 percent, nearly the lowest level in two years.

In Hall County, the latest available figures show 9 percent unemployment in December, a drop from 9.4 percent in November. But initial unemployment claims rose 44.3 percent between December and January and 14.3 percent over last year.

Most of the January increase in claims came in manufacturing and construction. Much of the increase likely can be contributed to seasonal layoffs, according to State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

Despite the lag behind improvement nationwide, the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce is confident good things are happening in Hall County.

"I think there's a lot of enthusiasm amongst small-business owners and about the prospects of their businesses so I'm encouraged," said Tim Evans, vice president of economic development for the chamber.

"I think a lot of small businesses held off hiring for a long time, managing as best they could with fewer people, trying to do more. Now they're really in a position where they need to hire somebody."

Evans said between 85-90 percent of chamber members are small business owners, illustrating how important it is that small business does well.

"Small business is a huge portion of our economy," Evans said.

But jobs are also being created in larger industries, he said.

Manufacturers like ZF Wind Power and King's Hawaiian, which located in Hall County in 2010, are ready to open.

"For many of them, the hiring is going on right now," Evans said.

Nationwide, the economy added 192,000 jobs last month, with factories, professional and business services, education and health care among those expanding employment. Retailers, however, trimmed jobs. State and local governments, wrestling with budget shortfalls, slashed 30,000 jobs, the most since November. Federal government hiring was flat.

Private employers added 222,000 jobs last month, the most since April. The unemployment rate is now at the lowest point since April 2009. It has been falling for three months, down from 9.8 percent in November, marking the sharpest three-month decline since 1983.

"These numbers can be sustained and built on," said economist Joel Naroff at Naroff Economic Advisors. "The economy is recovering, there is no question about it. Businesses are finally taking some of those profits they are earning and putting them back into the work force."

The number of unemployed people dipped to 13.7 million, still almost double since before the recession.

When factoring in the number of part-time workers who would rather be working full time and those who have given up looking for work, the percentage of "underemployed" people dropped to 15.9 percent in February, the lowest in nearly two years.

The positive news on the hiring front comes as the larger economy is gaining momentum.

Americans shoppers are spending more. U.S. exporters are selling more abroad. Manufacturing is growing at the fastest pace in nearly seven years. And the service sector, which employs about 90 percent of the work force, is expanding at the fastest clip in more than five years.

Associated Press contributed to this report.