The non-farm private sector added 154,000 jobs in September, according to the ADP National Employment Report, a decrease from August’s revised growth of 175,000. Service providing jobs accounted for most of the month’s growth, while goods-producing employment increased for the first time since March.
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees added 34,000 jobs, down from 68,000 in August. Medium-sized businesses with 50-499 employees added 56,000 jobs, up from 40,000 last month. Large businesses added 64,000 jobs, up from 56,000 in September.
Service-providing employment rose by 151,000 jobs, 45,000 of which were in the professional and business services sector. Goods-producing employment increased for the first time in six months, adding a net 3,000 jobs, largely due to gains in the construction industry.
“Job gains in September eased a bit when compared to the past 12-month average,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and head of the ADP Research Institute. “We also observed softening this month in trade/transportation/utilities, possibly due to a continued tightening U.S. labor market and lackluster consumer spending.”
Read the ADP report.
