Despite signs of a tightening labor market, companies added jobs at a strong pace in March, according to a report.
The firm said that private payrolls grew by 455,000 for the month, which was in line with the estimate of 450,000, but it was the lowest since August. The total was slightly below the upwardly revised 486,000 for February.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to show jobs growth of 490,000 for the month in the nonfarm payrolls report on Friday. In February, the payroll firm's count was about 200,000 below the government's official tally.
The leisure and hospitality sector added 161,000 jobs in the month of March, according to the report from the private payroll company. 61,000 new jobs were created by professional and business services.
Manufacturing led with 54,000 while construction added 15,000.
Service-providing companies added 377,000 jobs while goods producers added 79,000.
Large companies added 177,000 jobs and companies with 50 to 499 workers added 188,000. In March, small businesses rebounded from a decline in February.
The service providers which had the most ground to make up due to the swine flu are hiring.
BLS data shows that in February there were a record 5 million more jobs than available workers. 4.35 million workers took part in the Great Resignation during the month, leaving their jobs in search of better opportunities.
Friday's report is expected to show that the unemployment rate has gone down.
The jobs numbers are watched closely by the Federal Reserve as the central bank battles inflation at 40-year highs. The Fed is expected to raise interest rates at a brisk pace this year to combat rising prices, as job growth has come with a sharp acceleration in wages.
There were 161,000 jobs added in March. The figure was misstated.
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