Payroll processor ADP released a report on Wednesday showing private sector employment in the U.S. increased by much less than expected in the month of April.
ADP said private sector employment climbed by 62,000 jobs in April after surging by a downwardly revised 147,000 jobs in March.
ADP said the weaker than expected private sector job growth came as the education and health services, information, and professional and business services industries lost jobs, while hiring in other sectors was moderate.
The report also said pay for job-stayers rose 4.5 percent in April compared to the same month a year ago, reflecting a slight deceleration from March.
Meanwhile, year-over-year pay growth for job-changers accelerated to 6.9 percent in April from 6.7 percent in March.