US private sector adds 214,000 jobs in February: ADP

[NEW YORK] US private employers added 214,000 jobs in February, above economists' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast the ADP National Employment Report would show a gain of 190,000 jobs, with estimates ranging from 160,000 to 225,000.

Private payroll gains in the month earlier were revised down to 193,000 from an originally reported 205,000 increase.

The report is jointly developed with Moody's Analytics.

The ADP figures come ahead of the US Labour Department's more comprehensive non-farm payrolls report on Friday, which includes both public and private-sector employment.

Economists polled by Reuters are looking for US private payroll employment to have grown by 185,000 jobs in February, up from 158,000 the month before. Total non-farm employment is expected to be 190,000.

The unemployment rate is forecast to stay steady at 4.9 per cent from the 4.9 per cent recorded a month earlier.

REUTERS