Industry News and Information
Private Sector Employment Increased 158,000 in March
Steven Rothberg
Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics
Another good month of employment reports, this time from ADP and 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.
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.”
Businesses with 49 or fewer employees added 74,000 jobs in March. Employment levels among medium-sized companies with 50-499 employees rose by 37,000, while employment at large companies – those with 500 or more employees – increased by 47,000.
