Unemployment rates were higher during January than a year earlier in 363 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in seven areas, and unchanged in two areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-five areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15 percent, while 2 areas registered rates below 5 percent.

The national unemployment rate during January was 10.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from  8.5 percent a year earlier. For Tacoma, the rate was 10.7 percent, up from 8.3 percent during January of 2009 and 9.5 percent during December.

For Olympia, the unemployment rate during January was 8.7 percent, up from 7.1 percent a year earlier and 7.7 percent during December.

The two divisions that comprise the Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., metropolitan area registered the highest jobless rates: Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, 16.4 percent, and Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, 15 percent. Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md., reported the lowest unemployment rate among the divisions, 6.4 percent, followed by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va., 7.1 percent.