WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Private-sector hiring ramped up last month, as employers added the most jobs since November 2012, according to data released Wednesday.

June’s gain of 281,000 private-sector jobs, as reported by Automatic Data Processing Inc., blew past forecasts from economists, who had expected an increase of 210,000. In May, private-sector employers added 179,000 jobs.

“The job market is steadily improving,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, which prepares the report using ADP’s data. “Judging from the job market, the economic recovery remains fully intact and is gaining momentum.”

The strong report that showed broad-based job gains comes one day ahead of the government’s key monthly snapshot of the U.S. labor market, and is likely to encourage economists. On Thursday, economists polled by MarketWatch expect the U.S. Labor Department to report that nonfarm employment rose by 215,000 jobs in June, compared with a May gain of 217,000 jobs.

“Whatever about the specific rise in payrolls tomorrow, this report adds to the evidence that the labor market has strengthened further this year,” said Jim O’Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.

ADP’s report echoes other recent jobs data showing that the labor market is firming, with layoff readings remaining near post-recession lows, and monthly nonfarm employment gains holding above 200,0000 since February. A report earlier this week showed that manufacturing employment continued to expand last month, a healthy sign for this sector.

However, the economy is still particularly tough for many jobless workers, with about one-third of the unemployed looking for work for more than half a year.

ADP details

Details of ADP’s report showed private-sector job gains across a wide variety of businesses. Service providers added 230,000 jobs in June — the most since November 2012. Meanwhile, goods producers added 51,000 spots — the most since December 2012.

Small businesses added 117,000 jobs, medium businesses added 115,000, and large businesses added 49,000.

“The overall tone of this report was unambiguously positive,” said Millan Mulraine, deputy head, U.S. research and strategy, at TD Securities.

Of note, private-sector construction employment rose by 36,000 last month, the largest gain since 2006. A particularly harsh winter hit the home-building industry, as well as the greater economy, and at least part of June’s gain may reflect a bounce back. Home builders themselves are perking up after a weak first quarter, though they still have concerns about sales.

Also read: U.S. stock futures edge up after ADP data

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