Suwannee County’s unemployment rate rose to 8.8 percent in February, according to figures released today by the state. January’s jobless rate in Suwannee was 8.4 percent. The February 2008 figure was 4.5 percent.

Hamilton County unemployment rose to 11.5 percent in February, up from 11.3 percent in January. The jobless rate there in February 2008 was 5.4 percent.

Unemployment in Lafayette County also rose in February, reaching 7.7 percent. January’s figure was 7.3 percent. The February 2008 jobless rate was 3.2 percent.

Florida’s jobless rate is 9.2 percent, up from 8.8 percent in January and up 4.2 percentage points from the February 2008 rate. The state’s current unemployment rate is 1.1 percentage points higher than the national rate of 8.1 percent.