Private sector job creation in the United States slowed sharply in August, to 177,000, half as much as in July, and is even below expectations, according to the monthly ADP/Stanford Lab survey published on Wednesday.

These figures “correspond to the pace of job creation before the pandemic,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP, quoted in the press release. “After two years of exceptionally high creation linked to the recovery, we are moving towards more sustainable growth in wages and employment.”