Gainesville area jobless rates rise

ATLANTA - The jobless rate now tops ten percent in four Gainesville area counties... Barrow (10.7), Dawson (10.3), Jackson (10.1) and Lumpkin (11.5).

But, some places elsewhere in Georgia are already well-above ten percent. Whitfield County is 12.4, Troup is at 13.4, Murray 13.2, Screven is at 14.5, and Jeff Davis County 14 percent. The lowest rate in the state is Athens-Clarke, 6.8 percent.

The Hall County rate increased .4 percent to 8.9 percent .

The biggest increases in the Gainesville area? 1.4. percent in Habersham and one percent in Lumpkin.

For the 13-county Georgia Mountains Region, the jobless rate is up .5 percent to 9.2 percent.