The greatest impact was felt in the construction sector, which shed 65,000 jobs in August. The construction industry has contracted by 1.4 million jobs since the start of the recession.

At least 63,000 jobs were cut in the manufacturing sector in August, while the financial sector lost 28,000 jobs.

The unemployment rate had changed little in June and July, after increasing 0.4 or 0.5 percentage point each month from December 2008 through May.

The figures do not include those working on farms.