Nick Rummell

MANHATTAN (CN) — The government shutdown blocked a widely anticipated jobs report, but other employment data this week show the labor market continues to deteriorate.

Economists predicted the jobs report would show a pickup of about 50,000 jobs, though given other employment data this week that might have been more hope than reality.

According to payroll company ADP, the private sector lost 32,000 jobs last month, continuing the downward trend the last two months and far worse than what most market analysts predicted. The company’s July jobs report was revised downward drastically, from an initial estimate of 54,000 jobs gained to a loss of 3,000 jobs.

The Midwest bled out the most positions, losing 63,000 total, while other regions of the United States managed to gain at

See Full Page