The nation's unemployment rate held steady in February coming in at 9.7 percent as employers slashed 36,000 jobs, according to the Labor Department.

The figures are better than economists expected and are an indication that the job market is slowly healing. Still, a significant amount of hiring has yet to occur.

The report comes after the House passed a jobs bill on a mostly party-line vote.

Many in Congress doubt the $35 billion measure will actually create many jobs.

Although the bill has been overshadowed by the health care debate, polls have shown that jobs and the economy are by far the top priorities for voters.