BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for February, with preliminary data indicating that payroll jobs decreased by 7,200 for the month, following a revised increase of 2,000 jobs in January. Prior to February, Massachusetts had added payroll jobs for four consecutive months. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a decrease of 133,000 jobs nationally in February.

Preliminary data also shows the February unemployment rate in Massachusetts increased slightly to 4.8%, from a revised January rate of 4.7%, and labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 66% from a revised January rate of 66.2%. Unemployment and job estimates for March will be released May 1, with April data scheduled for May 22.

BLS categories with the strongest growth month-over-month for Massachusetts employment in February include information, financial services, and construction.

“The data released today tells us less about what’s happening now, and more about what was happening a few months ago,” said Mark Rembert, chief economist with EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research. “The preliminary data for Massachusetts from February follows the national data, which saw a decrease of 133,000 jobs and an increase in the unemployment rate during that time. While we continue to monitor economic and labor trends, we are seeing some positives, including that, in the past six months, Massachusetts has outpaced the U.S. in job growth, and we are seeing steadily increasing job postings.”