Private-sector hiring slowed in April

{mosads}Prakken said there is evidence that the warm winter boosted employment during those months, with a “payback” now coming due.

“The modest rise in private employment suggests that the national unemployment rate probably did not decline in April unless there was a notable decline in the labor force,” he said.

The service sector took on the bulk of the jobs, as it has been doing in recent months, although at a slower pace than March. Restaurants and bars were among those employers that added 123,000 jobs in April, down from 158,000 in March.

Small businesses accounted for 58,000 of those jobs.

Manufacturing employment dropped 5,000 jobs, the first loss since September of last year. The ISM index on Tuesday showed the sector, including employment, growing at the fastest rate since June.

Employment in the private, goods-producing sector declined 4,000 jobs in April.

The report covers hiring in the private sector, whereas Friday’s report from the Labor Department will reflect public and private hiring.

The ADP report regularly deviated from the government’s assessment.

The economy added 120,000 total jobs in March, well below ADP’s estimate.

Employment levels among medium-sized payrolls — those with 50 to 499 workers — rose 57,000. Employment on large payrolls — 500 or more workers — increased by 4,000.