Bloomberg (07/05/12) Lorraine Woellert

Companies in the U.S. added 176,000 workers in June, according to figures released today by ADP Employer Services. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a 100,000 advance. The unexpectedly high number may ease concern the labor market is deteriorating. The increase followed a revised 136,000 gain the prior month.

Employment in the private, service-providing sector increased by 160,000 in June, after rising a revised 137,000 in May. Employment in the private, goods-producing sector added 16,000 jobs in June. Manufacturing employment added 4,000, reversing May’s decline.