The latest employment report issued by ADP Canada suggests that employment across the country dropped by more than 205,000 jobs in August.

The report, which is derived from actual ADP payroll data, measures the change in total nonfarm payroll employment each month on a seasonally-adjusted basis.

Construction was hardest hit among all the sectors measured in the report. The industry lost 86,200 jobs. Next most impacted was trade/transportation and utilities with 49,500 jobs lost. Manufacturing lost 39,000 jobs.

Only three sectors marked employment gains in the month: finance/real estate (3,000), leisure and hospitality (6,800) and other services, which includes public administration, (5,200).

“In August, the labour market posted a decline in employment with the greatest job losses in construction; trade, transportation and utilities; and manufacturing,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute. “Leisure and hospitality and finance, however, posted job gains for the first time since March 2020.”

Highlights of the April report include:

• Manufacturing: -39,000
• Construction: -86,200
• Natural Resources and Mining: -1,300
• Trade/Transportation and Utilities: -49,500
• Information: -2,500
• Finance/Real Estate: 3,000
• Professional/Business Services: -29,100
• Educational Services: -13,000
• Health Care: -7,000
• Leisure and Hospitality: -6,800