AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Labor Department says the state’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in February, up slightly from January and down from 7.9 percent a year ago.

Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass said 50,100 people were without jobs during the month, down 5,200 from February 2011.

Maine’s jobless rate remains below the national rate, which was 8.3 percent for the month.

Cumberland County had Maine’s lowest seasonally unadjusted job rate, at 6.3 percent. Washington County had the highest rate, 12.1 percent.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.