US Private Sector Adds 62,000 Jobs in March

U.S. private-sector employers added 62,000 jobs in March, according to the ADP National Employment Report released Wednesday, surpassing economists' expectations of around 40,000 and signaling a second consecutive month of stabilization in hiring.

The report, based on payroll data from more than 25 million workers, showed the March figure following an upwardly revised gain of 66,000 jobs in February, up from an initial estimate of 63,000. This marked a recovery from January's sharply revised total of just 11,000 jobs, which had heightened concerns about a weakening labor market. Overall, private hiring has remained positive for nine straight months, though at a modest pace compared to historical norms.

Job growth was concentrated in specific areas. Education and health services led with 58,000 additions, while construction contributed 30,000. Smaller gains came from information services, with 16,000 jobs, natural resources and mining, adding 11,000, and leisure and hospitality, with 7,000. Financial activities and other services each added 4,000, and professional and business services saw a slight increase of 1,000.

Offsetting these advances were losses in other sectors. Trade,...