U.S. private-sector adds 55,000 jobs in May: ADP

ByStander

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. companies hired 55,000 additional workers in May, the fourth straight increase in private-sector jobs, payroll giant ADP said Thursday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch were expecting the ADP report to show 100,000 jobs added in May. The report comes one day before the government releases its estimates of nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate. The MarketWatch concensus looks for a gain of 513,000 in May, including about 400,000 workers hired temporarily to conduct the 2010 Census. Service-producing industries added 78,000 jobs, the fifth straight increase, ADP said. Goods-producing industries shed 23,000 jobs, despite a gain of 15,000 in manufacturing.