U.S. businesses added a modest 158,000 jobs in June, a new survey has found—a sign that hiring has decelerated but remains healthy enough to lower the unemployment rate over time.
As The Associated Press reports, payroll processor ADP says the strongest job gains were in services like education, health care, hotels and restaurants.
Manufacturers added 6,000 jobs, but construction firms and mining companies—which include oil and gas drillers—cut 6,000.
The data echoes other figures that show hiring has slowed over the spring, with job gains averaging just 121,000 from March through May, according to government data. Most economists chalk it up to a dwindling supply of workers as the unemployment rate falls.
Analysts predict that the government’s jobs report, to be released Friday, will show 179,000 jobs were added last month, according to data provider FactSet.
