The weakness in U.S. labor markets has gathered extraordinary momentum, wiping away more than 2.5 million jobs over the past four months alone, the Labor Department reported Friday. The U.S. economy lost 651,000 jobs in February, the fourth month in a row where job losses were near or above 600,000. The unemployment rate soared to 8.1%, the highest rate in over 25 years. Job losses in February were close to expectations. But the government also revised job losses in the past two months down by 161,000 jobs. Job losses in December, now pegged at 681,000, was the biggest monthly decline in jobs since 1949. Average hourly earnings rose by 3 cents, or 0.2%, to $18.47 an hour, in line with expectations. Average wages have risen 3.6% in the past year. According to the survey of business establishments, 660,000 jobs were lost in the private-sector in February. Goods-producing industries shed 276,000 jobs, while services lost 375,000. Job losses were widespread across industries. Only education and health services reported job gains. The economy has lost 4.4 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. According to the survey of households, employment fell by 351,000 in February. Unemployment rose by 851,000. The unemployment rate for African Americans rose to 13.4% in February. Teenage unemployment rose to 21.6%. The average workweek held steady at 33.3 hours for the third straight month. The index for hours worked fell by 0.7%. Hours in the factory sector dropped by 2% over the month.

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