US private payrolls increase modestly in January, ADP says

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. private payrolls increased less than expected in January, the ADP's national employment report showed on Wednesday.

Private employment rose by 22,000 jobs last month after a downwardly revised 37,000 increase in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private employment advancing by 48,000 jobs after a previously reported 41,000 gain in December.

The ADP report is jointly developed with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. It has been a poor predictor of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' private payrolls estimate. The BLS' more comprehensive and closely watched employment report for January, which was due for release on Friday, has been delayed by the partial shutdown of the federal government.

The three-day shutdown ended on Tuesday. The labor market has largely been in what economists call a "low-hire, low-fire" state, blamed on import tariffs and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said last week "labor market indicators suggest that conditions may be stabilizing after a period of gradual softening." The U.S. central bank left its benchmark overnight interest rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range.