WASHINGTON - Unemployment rates rose in more than two-thirds of U.S. cities last month, evidence that the slowdown in hiring last month was felt nationwide.

The Labor Department says unemployment rates increased in 255 of the nation's 372 largest metro areas. They fell in 87 and were unchanged in 30. That's worse than in April when rates fell in 356 areas.

Many of the cities with the biggest changes are home to colleges and universities, where students likely began searching for summer jobs. Unlike the national figures, the local unemployment data aren't seasonally adjusted to account for such trends.

Nationwide, the rate rose last month to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April. Job growth nationwide has slowed sharply in recent months, raising concerns about the strength of the economic recovery.