US private payrolls in January exceed forecasts

ANKARA

US private payrolls surged 183,000 in January, much above the market forecast of 148,000, according to a report released Wednesday by ADP Research Institute.

This followed an upwardly revised 176,000 hike in December.

The report said hiring momentum in the last quarter of 2024 carried into January with some exceptions, including manufacturing.

The year 2025 began on a strong note for the job market, but this overall growth highlighted a divide, Nela Richardson, the ADP chief economist, said.

Hiring was robust in consumer-focused industries, while business services and production sectors saw slower job growth, she added.

Trade, transportation, and utilities posted the highest gain by adding 56,000 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with an increase of 54,000.

These were followed by education and health services, which added 20,000 jobs, information with 19,000 jobs, and professional and business services with 14,000.

Manufacturing, on the other hand, saw job losses of 13,000.