The non-farm private sector added 156,000 jobs in April, according to the ADP National Employment Report, a decline from March’s downwardly revised growth of 194,000. Growth in the services sector slowed from March’s total, while the goods-producing sector shed jobs during the month.
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees added 93,000 jobs, roughly the same as in March. Medium-sized businesses with 50-499 employees added 39,000 jobs, down from 66,000 in March. Large businesses added 24,000 jobs, down from 35,000 in the previous month.
“The Job market appears to have stumbled in April,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics. “Job growth noticeably slowed, with some weakness across most sectors. One month does not make a trend, but this bears close watching as the financial market turmoil earlier in the year may have done some damage to business hiring.”
Goods-producing employment fell by 11,000, after gaining 5,000 jobs last month. The manufacturing sector led the losses, losing 13,000 jobs.
Service-providing employment rose by 166,000, down from 189,000 in March, as the professional and business services and financial activities sector saw slightly lower gains during April. The trade transportation and utilities sector added 25,000 jobs, 17,000 fewer than in March.
Read the ADP release.
