The unemployment rate in the U.S. surged to almost a five-year high as employers cut workers for the eighth month in a row, according to government figures released Friday. The total number of jobs lost in 2008 now amounts to more than 600,000.

The 6.1% unemployment rate is up from 5.7% in July. Some observers say the rate is even higher if discouraged workers who have stopped looking for work are counted.