ADP: Private employers add 200,000 jobs this month

WASHINGTON A private survey shows U.S. businesses created a healthy 200,000 jobs this month.

The payroll company ADP says companies hired in July at the fastest pace since December. And it revised up its estimate of the number of jobs the private sector created in June from 188,000 to 198,000.

Professional and businesses services companies added 49,000 jobs this month, construction companies 22,000. But manufacturers shed 5,000.

Small businesses -- those with fewer than 50 employees -- added 82,000 jobs.

The ADP report is derived from payroll data and tracks private employment. It does not report government hiring.

ADP's survey has diverged at times from the U.S. Labor Department's more comprehensive monthly jobs report. The department's employment report for July will be released Friday.