Austin’s jobless rate remained higher in February than it was in late 2012, but it was considerably lower than it was 12 months ago.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in February, a drop from 5.6 in January and 5.8 in February 2012, but above the rate of 4.5 percent in November and December 2012, according to data released this week by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate is historically higher in January, February and March.

Mower County’s rate was 5.2 last month, compared to 5.7 percent in January and 5.9 percent in February 2012.

There were 677 Austin residents actively looking for work and 411 outside of Austin in Mower County, according to the report.

Rochester’s jobless rate remains one of the best in southern Minnesota but was also up the last two months, at 4.8 percent in February and 5.2 percent in January, compared to 4.3 percent in December. Austin’s rate was considerably lower than Owatonna’s, at 6 percent, Winona’s, at 5.7 percent, and Albert Lea’s, at 6.6 percent.

Minnesota’s seasonally-adjusted rate was 5.5 percent, while the national average was 7.7 percent.