AUGUSTA (AP) – Maine’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in February, unchanged from January’s rate, the state Labor Department said Friday.

February’s preliminary unemployment figure was also the same as it was in February a year ago.

Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said unemployment also has remained unchanged over the past year as an increase in the number of residents employed, 7,000, was offset by a similar gain in the number of Maine residents participating in the labor force.

Maine’s seasonally adjusted 4.4 percent rate in February compares to the national unemployment rate of 4.5 percent for the same month, the department said.