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The private sector slashed a record 20.2 million jobs between March and April — a somber preview of Friday's monthly jobs report. That's up from the 149,000 private jobs cut a month earlier.

 was not surprising, given that more than 30 million people have 

 as the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the economy. But the latest numbers are stunning nonetheless.

"Job losses of this scale are unprecedented," said Ahu Yildirmaz, co-head of the ADP Research Institute. "The total number of job losses for the month of April alone was more than double the total jobs lost during the Great Recession."

Small businesses cut 6 million jobs, medium businesses 5.3 million and large businesses nearly 9 million, ADP said. The service sector cut 16 million jobs — including 8.6 million in leisure and hospitality. Manufacturing jobs fell by 4.3 million. 

The Labor Department's official report for April, which also includes the government sector, is expected to show a drop of more than 20 million jobs and unemployment nearly quadrupling to 16 percent, according to analysts' forecasts. 

The pandemic's toll began to show up significantly in the department's March report, which showed 

 — the most since 2009, during the the Great Recession. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4 percent in March from a nearly 50-year low. It also marked the end of a record 10-year streak of job growth.  

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Avie Schneider

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The record job losses are a preview of the Labor Department's employment report for April coming Friday. ADP's new numbers are not surprising, given the more than 30 million jobless claims filed.

20.2 million private-sector jobs are gone

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