The private sector added 215,000 jobs in December, according to payroll processor ADP. The figure comes in well above consensus estimates of around 150,000, according toBloomberg, and points to a promising December job report.

 

"[215,000] is above the trend job creation we've been getting over the past couple of years, at about 150,000 a month," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, which coproduces the report with ADP, in a call with reporters 

The data represent job growth across several industries, including 53,000 new jobs in the trade, transportation, and utilities category, as well as 37,000 new jobs in professional and business services. Construction was also unexpectedly strong, with 39,000 new jobs, though Zandi noted that industry may be benefiting from reconstruction after Hurricane Sandy.