The Washington DC area posted the lowest jobless rate in January, 3.5%, for the third month in a row among U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million or more, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The Austin TX and Birmingham AL areas tied for the second-lowest rates at 3.9% each. Detroit reported the highest unemployment rate among large metropolitan areas in January at 8.2%. It was followed by the Providence RI area, which posted a rate of 7.1%.

Among metropolitan areas of all sizes, the Logan UT area reported the lowest jobless rate at 2.4%. The El Centro CA area had the highest at 16.5%.

Overall, 234 of the 369 metropolitan areas posted higher unemployment rates in January than a year ago, 111 reported lower jobless rates, and 24 reported no change.