A survey from private employment firm ADP shows a 170,000 gain in jobs in January. Economists had called for an increase of 182,000 jobs, after December's gain of 292,000 jobs. Experts say that the job growth is a good sign, and that the economy is gradually improving. They also say that the smaller job increase is expected as companies shed seasonal employees. The data also shows that the job growth was spread throughout the economy. The Labor Department will release its jobs report for January on Friday.
See "U.S. Companies Add 170,000 Workers in January", Bob Willis, Bloomberg News, January 31, 2012