U.S. private employers added 38,000 jobs in August, the slowest gain since January and below the Dow Jones consensus of 47,000, according to the ADP National Employment Report produced with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. July’s reading was revised higher to 46,000 from 44,000. Goods-producing industries lost a net 10,000 jobs, led by a 17,000 drop in manufacturing, while construction added 12,000; service providers added 48,000, driven by education and health services, even as professional and business services cut 16,000 positions. Large firms accounted for most hiring. Base pay rose 3.2% year over year and total pay 4.7%, with ADP officials highlighting multi-year wage deceleration and weaker momentum for low-wage workers. Broader labor-market indicators also softened, with total hires slipping to 5.1 million in July and the quits rate falling to 1.9%. Attention shifted to Friday’s official nonfarm payrolls report, which Dow Jones-surveyed analysts expect to show about 53,000 jobs added and the unemployment rate remaining at 4.1%, a key input before the Federal Reserve’s September meeting. New York Fed President John Williams reiterated that bringing inflation back to 2% remains the central bank’s top priority.