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Wall Street stumbled Thursday as new employment data pointed to a cooling labor market, stoking fears of an economic slowdown. The latest ADP National Employment Report showed private sector job growth falling short of expectations, sending major indices into negative territory.

ADP Data Shows that the US job Market is Slowing, with 90k Jobs Added in August vrs.140k Expected
 

ADP said private employers added just 99,000 jobs in August, well below the Dow Jones estimate of 140,000. This marks the fifth consecutive month of slowing job creation in the private sector. Despite the slowdown, annual pay growth remained steady at 4.8% year-over-year.

“The job market’s downward drift brought us to slower-than-normal hiring after two years of outsized growth,” said Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist, in a statement accompanying the report.

Stock Market Dips Amid Cooling Labor Market
 

The disappointing jobs data rattled investors, with major indices declining across the board. As of 12:16 PM EDT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 430 points, or 1.1%. The S&P 500 (SPX) dropped 0.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.1%.

Market observers are now turning their attention to Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is expected to provide a more comprehensive view of the labor market. The heightened scrutiny on employment data comes as concerns mount over the U.S. economic outlook.

Analysts note that the market has shown increased sensitivity to potential growth scares in recent weeks. A weak jobs report in July sparked recession fears and led to market volatility throughout August. Some experts warn that any further weakness in the labor market could signal softer demand, a factor that may not be fully priced into current equity valuations.

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