The number of unemployed people in the United States surged in June to 467,000, driving the jobless rate to 9.5 percent, the highest in more than 26 years, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

The June reading for job losses was worse than the 363,000 layoffs expected by economists.

Since the recession began in December 2007, the U.S economy has lost a net total of 6.5 million jobs.

"There are going to be massive, massive numbers of people who are out of work for long periods of time," Andrew Stettner, deputy director for the National Employment Law Project, said, "It's one of the most important aspects of where the economy is right now."

According to the Labor Department, the manufacturing sector shed 136,000 jobs last month while construction industries axed 79,000. Retail trade employment fell by 21,000 in the month.

Professional and business services slashed 118,000 jobs, while the federal government shed 52,000 jobs in the month.

The average work week in June fell to 33 hours, the lowest on records dating to 1964.

The Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank, has said that the nation's unemployment rate will remain elevated into 2011. Many economists believe the labor market may not get back to normal -- meaning a 5 percent unemployment rate -- until 2013.

Source: Xinhua