U.S. franchisees added 48,600 jobs in December, nearly twice as many as in the previous month, ADP said Wednesday.
"Franchise employment growth finished strong in December adding the second most jobs of any month in 2015," Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and head of the ADP Research Institute, said in a statement. "Restaurants had their second biggest month of the year and accounted for two-thirds of the jobs added this month."
Restaurants gained 32,770 jobs last month. Auto parts and dealers added 8,400, accounting for 17 percent of total gains.
Gasoline stations and auto repair shops — as well as manufacturing franchisees — saw jobs contract last month by 428 and by 22, respectively.
Overall franchise jobs grew by 25,600 in November.
