Tom Casey reports in the Register Star the rate of unemployment in Columbia and Greene counties increased in February, according to data released Tues., April 3, by the state Department of Labor. The DoL reported the rate in Columbia County rose to 8.5 percent, up from 8.4 in January; in Greene County the rate rose to 9.8 percent, up from 9.6 percent in January. A total of 2,500 Columbia County residents are out of work; in Greene County that number is 2,400. The statewide average is 9.2 percent, up from 8.6 percent in February 2011. The Mary-Alane Wiltse, Director of Workforce Investment Office at Columbia-Greene Community College, told Casey she has noticed an increase in the number of patrons over the past months. In the past quarter, 517 people attended workshops and 780 used the college's resource room; 600 people have registered for services since January. “We have been seeing more people than we have had previously,....It’s been bad since 2008,” said Wiltse. Read the full story in the Register Star.