The unemployment rate in metro Gainesville, which includes all of Hall County, fell slightly to 8.9 percent in February, the state Department of Labor reported today.

The preliminary unadjusted rate is down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 9.0 percent in January. The jobless rate in the metro Gainesville area in February 2010 was 10 percent.

The rate declined because the number of jobs increased by 300 and there were fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, and administrative and support services, the department reported.

The jobless rate in the Georgia Mountains region dropped the same amount in February to 9.4 percent.

Unemployment rates decreased in 20 of the state's 25 local areas, with five area rates remaining unchanged. Athens recorded the state's lowest rate (7.7 percent) while Dalton had the highest (12.2 percent).

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 10.2 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point, from a revised 10.3 percent in January. The state's jobless rate was also 10.3 percent in February 2010.

February marked the 41st consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 8.9 percent.

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