The NC Department of Commerce has released February figures for unemployment, still above 10% state-wide. Ashe joined an unwanted category with February unemployment up 1.1% at 15.2%— 6th highest in the state, Avery down 4-tenths to 13%, and Watauga down a tenth to 9.1%. North Carolina had 34 counties that were at or below the state’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 10.1 percent. Looking at the bright side of the figures, N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll said, “A majority of North Carolina’s counties have lower unemployment rates compared to last year.” State figures for March will be released in two weeks.