Washington, Aug 7 - Job losses in America tapered off in July while the unemployment rate surprisingly inched down to 9.4 percent for the first time in more than a year, suggesting that the recession is nearing an end.

As employers cut far fewer jobs from payrolls, the Labour Department Friday reported a net loss of 247,000 jobs in July, the fewest job losses since August 2008. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast a loss of 325,000.

The job loss in June was also revised lower - to 443,000 job losses from 467,000. The unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent from 9.5 percent in June, the first decline in that closely watched reading since April of 2008. Economists cited by CNNMoney.com expected unemployment to rise to 9.6 percent.

The unemployment rate fell even as employers continued to cut jobs because the Labour Department estimated there were 237,000 fewer people it counted as unemployed.

There was also plenty of bad news as the number of people unemployed for more than six months continued to rise, reaching nearly five million, a record high.

The Labour Department also said that one reason for the declining number of job losses was because cuts had been so deep leading up to July that there were fewer workers to lay off during the seasonal shutdown that happens in some factories, such as those in the auto industry.