Hiring in the US private sector slowed more than anticipated in August, according to payroll firm ADP on Thursday, as all eyes turn to the jobs market to gauge the economy’s health.

Private sector employment rose by 54,000 last month, ADP said, down from a revised 106,000 in July.

“The year started with strong job growth, but that momentum has been whipsawed by uncertainty,” ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said in a statement.

She added that the hiring slowdown could be explained by issues ranging from a labor shortage to “skittish consumers.”

While there remained job gains in areas like leisure and hospitality, industries including manufacturing and trade, transportation and utilities lost jobs.

The report comes a day before the world’s biggest economy is set to report official h

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