Ohio unemployment rate remains at 7 percent

February report reveals rate unchanged for 2 months, still below U.S. rate

Job seekers line up to speak with a State Dept. employee about job opportunities in the federal government during a job fair.

COLUMBUS — The latest monthly jobs data shows Ohio's unemployment rate continuing to stay below the national figure.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said Friday the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 7 percent, unchanged from January.

January and February rates have marked the first time Ohio's monthly unemployment rate failed to decline or at least remain steady since July 2011.

The state's leaders have said Ohio's economy and its job market are getting stronger, though the process is slow.

Ohio's unemployment rate has remained about a percentage point below the U.S. rate, which was 7.7 percent in February.