The overall number of jobs and unemployment rate bettered in both Beaufort and South Carolina during February.

Down from 8.7% in January to 8.6%, the number of employed persons increased to 1,991,575. That's the highest level since August 2008. Since February 2012 employment has increased 26,510.

Unemployment this February in Beaufort County improved faster, with unemployment falling from 7.6% to 7.2% with the number of jobs growing from 64,693 to 65,071.

In Jasper County the rate fell from 8.6% to 7.9%.

You can learn more about the jobs situation in this month's report from the SC Department of Employment and Workforce.

Nationally, unemployment rose from 7.9% in December to 7.7% in February.