(NewsNation) — Although the October jobs report will not be released Friday, private sector data indicates the United States is on track to lose more jobs this year than at the start of the pandemic.

For the second straight month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will not release its employment report because of the government shutdown. Without that critical data, economists are relying heavily on private sector figures, which show potential signs of trouble and, at best, a mixed picture of the economy.

This week, private payroll company ADP released a report showing slower hiring and cooling wage growth, signs of a weakening labor market. The private sector added a modest 42,000 jobs in October, reversing two consecutive months of losses.

But a new report from Challenger, Gray & Christma

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