Suwannee County’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.6 percent in April, according to figures released this morning by the state. Suwannee’s jobless rate for April 2008 figure was 4.3 percent.

Hamilton County unemployment dropped to 10.5 percent in April, down from 10.8 percent in March. The jobless rate there in April 2008 was 5.3 percent.

Unemployment in Lafayette County also fell in April, dropping to 6.2 percent. February’s figure was 7.0 percent. The April 2008 jobless rate was 3.2 percent.

Florida’s jobless rate is 9.6 percent, down slightly from 9.7 percent in March and up from 4.9 percent in April 2008.

The state’s current unemployment rate is .7 percentage points higher than the national rate of 8.9 percent.