The unemployment rate in Mason County increased last month. The preliminary figures released by the State Employment Security Department show the County's unemployment rate at 10%, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from September's revised rate. This marks the first increase since August. The unemployment rate in other areas of the South Sound held steady with Thurston and Kitsap counties remaining about 7% and Pierce County up one-ten of a percent to 8.7%. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.3% in October, from a revised rate of 9.1% in September.