ADP employment growth nearly flat in July

US ADP numbers which come two days before the Labor Department releases its closely watched nonfarm payrolls report showed private jobs gains of 179,000 in July, topping Reuters estimates of 170,000. June job growth was revised up just 4,000, to 176,000, from the initial estimate of 172,000.

Details showed that job growth was unbalanced. Services added 185,000 positions, but the goods-producing sector actually lost 6,000 workers. Construction posted a loss that matched that 6,000 number, while manufacturing added 4,000, which actually was a turnaround from June when the sector lost 15,000.

"Overall, the details of this report fall neatly in line with recent trends and provide little new signal on the state of labor markets heading into Friday’s official July employment report. We continue to look for 200k in nonfarm payroll growth," said Barclays in a report.