Private sector added 62,000 jobs in March, above expectations, ADP says

Companies in the private sector added 62,000 jobs in March, payroll processing firm ADP said Wednesday.

The figure is above economists’ estimates of a gain of 40,000 jobs. The prior month’s payrolls number was revised higher to a gain of 66,000 from an initially reported gain of 63,000.

“Overall hiring is steady, but job growth continues to favor certain industries, including health care,” said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. “In March, this solid performance was accompanied by a boost in pay gains for job-changers.”