Private-sector job creation popped in December, with companies adding a better-than-expected 241,000 workers, according to payroll processor ADP.
The count topped economist estimates, according to Reuters, of 226,000 and helped continue a trend of solid aggregate job numbers.
Services led the way, adding 194,000, while goods-producing industries contributed the remaining 46,000, according to the report compiled in conjunction with Moody's Analytics. More specifically, professional and business services added 69,000 while the trade, transportation and utilities grouping was next with 44,000.
Manufacturers hired 26,000, construction came in at 26,000 and financial activities provided 16,000 for the total count.
Small businesses, with fewer than 50 employees, easily was the biggest contributor in terms of size with 106,000 new jobs, while medium (50-499 employees) had 70,000 and large firms hired 66,000.
In addition to the solid December number, November's count came up from an initially reported 208,000 to 227,000.
The ADP/Moody's report serves as a precursor to the government's monthly nonfarm payrolls count, though the two numbers often differ substantially. November's Bureau of Labor Statistics report, for instance, indicated 321,000 new hires.
Economists expect Friday's payrolls number to show 243,000 total nonfarm jobs, including a 225,000 increase to private payrolls, according to FactSet.