U.S. companies add 182,000 workers in October

Private businesses placed another 182,000 workers on their payrolls in October after a 190,000 hike in September, ADP Research Institute said on Wednesday.

The number is slightly better that the expected 180,000, although last month's figure was revised down by about 10,000 from the original 200,000 estimate.

"The U.S. economy continues to add jobs at a decent pace but not great pace," Peter Boockvar, chief market analyst at the Lindsey Group, wrote in an email. "We'll likely have a four handle by year end," he added of expectations that the unemployment rate could finally get into the 4 percent range from the current level of 5.1 percent.

The data comes two days ahead of the more comprehensive monthly payroll report from the Labor Department report on Friday, which is expected to show the U.S. economy adding 185,000 jobs in October, with the jobless rate falling to 5 percent.