US private sector job growth slows slightly less than expected in April, ADP says

Job gains in America's private sector slowed down last month.

Payrolls consultancy ADP's closely-followed gauge of private sector hiring revealed that companies in the US took on 204,000 new workers last month.

Although that was less than the 241,000 seen in the month before, it was slightly better than the 193,000 that economists had penciled-in.

Service-providing firms accounted for the bulk of employment gains, taking on 160,000 new hires, led by an increase of 58,000 among professional and business services firms.

On the goods side of the economy, companies added 44,000 new people, led by 27,000 in Construction.

Hiring was strongest among medium-sized firms, categorised as those with between 50 to 499 staff, where it increased by 88,000, followed by another 62,000 new hires at small businesses.

Companies with between 500 and 999 employees saw the smallest increase, with just 12,000 new payrolls.