New figures show that private companies in the United States added 217,000 jobs in February, pointing to a quickening recovery in the struggling jobs market.
Private recruitment firm ADP reported a 15% increase in job creation from January, much better than the hiring slowdown expected by economists. Employment levels are now at their highest level since May 2009.
'This month's ADP national employment report suggests continued solid growth of non-farm private employment early in 2011,' ADP said.
The massive US service sector created 202,000 jobs, for the 13th consecutive month of gains, while the goods and manufacturing sectors saw much more moderate rises.
Nevertheless the report will raise optimism that, after losing 8.75 million jobs during the recession, the US labour market is finally back on track.
On Tuesday Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress there were 'grounds for optimism' that the ailing US jobs market will pick up this year. He cited a drop in unemployment over the last two months, figures showing fewer Americans have claimed jobless benefits in recent weeks, and an improvement in firms' hiring plans as positive signs for the medium term.
His comments boosted hopes that February unemployment figures, which will be released on Friday, will be better than previously expected.
But many economists remain concerned about the impact high oil prices and government cutbacks will have on the jobs market.
According to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, the number of cuts announced by US-based firms increased for the second consecutive month in February.
