A new report by Automatic Data Processing (ADP) revealed today that 20,000 people were hired by small businesses — aka those with 49 people or fewer — during the month of August. That marks the third month in increased hiring for small businesses in the "service-providing" sector.

(Ed's note: does "service-providing" include prostitutes, "massage therapists" and Elliot Spitzer's staff?)

Anyway, the news isn't all that great since the two other sectors analyzed showed pretty significant losses. That's non-farm private and goods producing industries.

In total, about 100,000 people lost their jobs in August alone. But small biz overall was small, with a total of 45,000 new gigs made available.

More after the jump.

In terms of medium and large operations then, you have 8,000 and 1,000 new jobs respectively. Our homies over at Element 79 have hired at least one of those 8,000 (there are, according to the Web site, 185 employees at Element 79). Way to go Tony — good luck in Chicago.