[U.S. private sector employment growth in August hit a new low since the beginning of the year] September 2, U.S. companies increased employment at a more moderate pace in August, indicating that the labor market remains stable. Data released by ADP Research on Wednesday showed that U.S. private sector employment increased by 38,000 in August, compared with a revised 46,000 in the previous month. Economists' median forecast was for an increase of 47,000. Data shows U.S. companies are still hiring, albeit at a slower pace than in the spring. Employment growth in August was the lowest since the beginning of the year. The ADP report shows that hiring is mainly driven by the education and medical services industry, followed by the leisure and hospitality industry and the construction industry. Manufacturing employment fell. ADP said most of the new jobs came from companies with 500 employees or more. U.S. job growth has been uneven so far this year, but unemployment remains at historically low levels, according to separate government data. This has led some Fed officials to believe that the labor market is generally in balance, allowing them to focus more on inflation.