Private sector added fewer-than-expected 41,000 jobs in December, ADP says

Companies in the private sector added 41,000 jobs in December, payroll processing firm ADP said Wednesday.

The figure is below economists’ estimates of a gain of 47,000 jobs. The prior month's payrolls number was revised to a loss of 29,000 from an initially reported loss of 32,000.

"Small establishments recovered from November job losses with positive end-of-year hiring, even as large employers pulled back," said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson.

WORKERS IN 19 STATES GET...