By Christopher Rugaber

U.S. companies added jobs at a modest pace last month, a private survey found, a sign that while hiring continues, it is only soaking up a relatively small proportion of the unemployed.

Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that businesses added 428,000 jobs in August, a figure that before the pandemic would have represented a healthy gain. But the increase represents a small slice of the 12 million jobs that have been lost to the spread of the coronavirus.

ADP said the bulk of the gains were at large companies, which added 298,000 jobs. Small businesses with less than 50 employees gained just 52,000 positions, while medium-sized firms — with between 50 and 499 employees — added 79,000 jobs.

"Given the enormous job losses during the Viral Recession, job growth of around 400,000 per month means that it would take years for the labor market to recover from the coronavirus pandemic," Gus Faucher, an economist at PNC, said.

ADP's figures do not include government workers and frequently diverge from the Labor Department's official jobs report. The August jobs report from the government will be released Friday. ADP revised up its July job gain to 212,000, but that is still far below the 1.8 million additional jobs that month reported by the federal government.

Economists forecast that the Labor Department on Friday will report that 1.4 million jobs were added in August, while the unemployment rate is expected to have fallen to 9.8 percent from 10.2 percent, according to data provider FactSet.

Share:
More In Business
SAG-AFTRA Members Officially on Strike
Members of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union officially went on strike Friday after negotiations broke down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Cheddar News explains.
The Importance of Timely Loan Repayment 
With so much information floating around about student loans, and an uncertain federal plan to forgive a significant amount of debt, Cheddar News brought in an expert to help you sort through what's going on. 
Getting Down to Business With the Cast of RHONY
The latest season of the Real Housewives of New York City premiered this week, and Cheddar's own Michelle Castillo got a chance to catch up with the ladies and get some of their tips on how to stretch your dollar in the Big Apple.  
How to Live Comfortably in Your City 
Now if you live in a major city and feel like no matter how much money you make it's never enough, you're not alone. Jacqueline Schadeck of New Perspectives Financial is here to show us how you can live within your means and still live comfortably.
All Buybuy Baby Stores Are Set to Close 
The ongoing liquidation of parent company Bed Bath & Beyond has now officially affected buybuy BABY stores. A judge has approved the sale of the chain's intellectual property for $15.5 million. 
Load More