Non-farm jobs drop by 33,000 in month

ROSELAND, N.J., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. non-farm jobs sector lost 33,000 jobs July to August and a June-to-July estimate was revised downward, a research group said Wednesday.

Automatic Data Processing Inc. revised a previous estimate of 9,000 jobs gained in June to July to 1,000. ADP previously called the 9,000-job lift a "slight employment gain." The 1,000-job lift amounts to a fraction of that.

The August decline "is consistent with an economy that is growing slowly but has not fallen into recession," the ADP National Employment Report said.

Manufacturing jobs fell for the 24th consecutive month, losing 56,000 jobs after losing 49,000 jobs during the previous month, ADP said.

Construction jobs, in decline for 21 months, lost 25,000 jobs, following a loss of 16,000 jobs the previous month. In total, 377,000 construction jobs have evaporated since August 2006, the report said.

Companies with more than 500 workers lost 28,000 jobs during the month. Businesses with between 50 and 499 workers, lost 25,000 jobs, while smaller businesses gained 20,000 jobs after an advance of 46,000 during the previous month, the report said.