The unemployment rate in Hall County dropped a bit in July after a midsummer bump.

The Georgia Department of Labor reported today that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Gainesville decreased to 8.7 percent in July, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 8.9 percent in June.

The preliminary June rate was 9.0 percent, but was revised down one-tenth of a percentage point. The jobless rate in metro Gainesville in July a year ago was 9.1 percent.

The rate declined because the number of jobs increased by 200, from 71,500 in June to 71,700. Most of the new jobs were in the service-related industries, Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said. Also, there were fewer layoffs in wholesale trade, educational services, and health care and social assistance.

The jobless rate in the Georgia Mountains area decreased to 9.1 percent in July, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.3 percent in June.

The lowest metro area rates, at 7.9 percent, were recorded in Athens and Warner Robins, while the highest, at 12.8 percent, was in Dublin.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.1 percent in July, up two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.9 percent in June. The state's jobless rate was also 10.1 percent in July a year ago.

The July increase, as in June, was due primarily to the traditional seasonal layoffs, with about 80 percent of them in state and local education.

July marked the 48th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.1 percent, down from 9.2 percent in June.