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Accounting

National Employment Report Shows Hiring Up in March

Employment in the U.S. private sector increased by 158,000 jobs from February to March, with most coming from small businesses.

April 3, 2013Employment in the U.S. private sector increased by 158,000 jobs from February to March, with most coming from small businesses, according to the March ADP National Employment Report, which is produced by ADP, a leading provider of human capital management solutions, in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics.

The report, which is derived from ADP’s actual payroll data, measures the change in total nonfarm private employment each month on a seasonally-adjusted basis. Revisions to job gains in the two prior months were offsetting; February’s gain of 198,000 jobs was revised up by 39,000 to 237,000, and January’s 215,000 gain was revised down by 38,000 to 177,000.

Total U.S. Nonfarm Private Employment:   158,000
     
By Company Size    
  Small businesses:   74,000
    · 1-19 employees   44,000
    · 20-49 employees   30,000
     
  Medium businesses:   37,000
    · 50-499 employees   37,000
     
  Large businesses:   47,000
    · 500-999 employees   27,000
    · 1,000+ employees   20,000
     
  By Sector    
    • Goods producing   7,000
    • Service providing   151,000
     
  Industry Snapshot    
    • Construction   0
    • Manufacturing   6,000
    • Trade/transportation/utilities   22,000
    • Financial activities   9,000
    • Professional/business services   39,000

Goods-producing employment rose by 7,000 jobs in March, its slowest pace of growth in six months. Construction added no net jobs over the month; this follows average monthly gains of 29,000 in the three months prior. Meanwhile, manufacturers added 6,000 jobs.

Service-providing jobs increased by 151,000. Among the service industries reported by the ADP National Employment Report, professional/business services had the largest gain with 39,000 jobs added over the month. Trade/transportation/utilities added 22,000 jobs and financial activities added 9,000 jobs.

“The U.S. private sector added 158,000 jobs in the month of March 2013, with the majority of the new jobs created by service providers,” said Carlos A. Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of ADP. “Over the first quarter of 2013, the ADP National Employment Report has reported an average gain of 191,000 new private sector jobs per month.”

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, said, “Job growth moderated in March. Construction employment gains paused as the rebuilding surge in the wake of Superstorm Sandy ended. Anticipation of Health Care Reform may also be weighing on employment at companies with close to 50 employees. The job market continues to improve, but in fits and starts.”