The unemployment rate increased in 99 of 100 counties in the state in February as the state&39;s average jobless rate increased to 10.7 percent, up from 9.7 percent in January.

Neighboring Rutherford County had a jobless rate of 16 percent in February with nearly 5,000 people unemployed. In Henderson County the unemployment rate was 9.8 percent.

&dquo;Virtually every job sector in North Carolina has had some loss because of the national recession,&dquo; said ESC chriaman Moses Carey Jr. &dquo;The ESC is working hard to assist those workers who are out of a job. And, over the course of the next week, we will begin paying an additional $25 a week to those who are eligible for unemployment benefits.&dquo;

The extra $25 is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.