WASHINGTON, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The pace of job losses in the United States slowed in May to 345,000, the fewest since September, but the jobless rate climbed to 9.4 percent, the highest in more than 25 years, the Labor Department reported Friday.

    The May reading for job losses was not as deep as the 520,000 layoffs expected by economists, while the unemployment rat had been forecast to rise to 9.2 percent.

    Since the recession began in December 2007, the U.S economy has lost a net total of 6 million jobs.

    "This morning we received another reminder of the challenges facing American families," said U.S. Vice President Joe Bide. "There's also some signs of hope today in the report, and a few signs that our actions to (put) the economy back on track are beginning to make some difference."

    "To sum it up: encouraging signs, but a long, long way to go," said the vice president.

    According to the Labor Department, the manufacturing sector shed 156,000 jobs last month while construction industries axed 59,000 jobs. Retail trade employment fell by 18,000 over the month.

    Professional and business services got rid of 51,000 jobs, and employment in the federal government shed 7,000 jobless over the month after bulking up by 92,000 in April.

    But leisure and hospitality firms added 3,000 positions, and health care employment grew by 24,000.

    The Federal Reserve, which is the central bank of the United States, 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.