NEW YORK – The private sector added 216,000 jobs to its payrolls in February, ADP estimates.
The numbers for January were revised up to a 173,000 gain from the previously estimated 170,000 gain.
“Employment in the private, service-providing sector rose 170,000 in February, and employment in the private, goods-producing sector increased 46,000 in February,” ADP said.
Manufacturing employment rose 21,000.
Employment at companies with 500 or more workers grew by 20,000, and companies with 50 to 499 workers added 88,000 jobs in February. Businesses with 49 or fewer workers increased by 108,000 in the month, 18,000 in the goods-producing sector and 90,000 jobs in the service sector.
Construction employment rose 16,000 in February, its fifth straight rise. Financial services added 14,000, the seventh rise in a row, and its largest gain in the past two years.
