The unemployment rate in Massachusetts dropped two-tenths of a point to stand below 5 percent in February, a month in which the state was clobbered with record snowfall.
The state office of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday that 800 private sector jobs were lost in February, but preliminary estimates still showed an overall gain of 800 jobs during the month.
The unemployment rate fell from 5.1 percent in January to 4.9 percent in February. It marked the first time since March 2008 — seven years ago — that the rate was below 5 percent.
The report did note that the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics had lowered its estimate of job growth for the month of January to 900, down from the previously reported gain of 2,600 jobs.
