Unemployment rate holds steady at 4.4 percent in February

BOSTON - Massachusetts&#39; unemployment rate in February held steady for the fourth month in a row at 4.4 percent, the state Division of Employment and Training said on Friday. <br> <br> February was the first month since January of last year that the state did not record a job loss. The stability may indicate the state&#39;s job levels may finally bottoming out, state officials said. <br> <br> Manufacturing and government were the only job sectors to decline in February, while all other sectors, including services, retail trade and construction, recorded small gains. <br> <br> In February of last year, the state&#39;s unemployment rate was 2.9 percent. The state&#39;s current jobless rate is below the national rate of 5.5 percent. <br> <br>