Unemployment rates in roughly two-thirds of the nation's largest metropolitan areas dipped in May as the gradual economic recovery spurred some hiring.

The Labor Department says the jobless rates dropped in 237 of 382 areas in May from April. It rose in 118 areas and was flat in 27.

The figures aren't adjusted to account for seasonal trends, such as lifeguards hired during the summer or retail clerks let go after the holiday shopping season. So they tend to be volatile from month to month.

Among the places seeing large declines in their jobless rates are Ocean City, N.J., Sandusky, Ohio, and Springfield, Ill. By contrast, areas in Louisana — hit by the BP oil spill — saw gains. Those includes Baton Rouge, New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner and Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux.