South Sound unemployment rate falls

Unemployment rates fell during June across the South Sound, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The unemployment rate last month for Tacoma was 9 percent, down from 9.7 percent both during May and a year earlier. In Olympia, the unemployment rates was 7.3 percent during June, down from 7.8 percent a month earlier and 7.9 percent in June 2009.

Nationally, 128 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10 percent, down from 145 areas a year earlier, while 60 areas posted rates below 7 percent, up from 54 areas in June 2009.

El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., again recorded the highest unemployment rates, 27.6 and 26.4 percent, respectively. Bismarck, N.D., registered the lowest unemployment rate in June, 3.8 percent, followed by Fargo, N.D.-Minn., 4.1 percent.

The national unemployment rate is 9.6 percent.