US employers add less than expected jobs in January, ADP report reveals

December's gain was revised up to 253,000 from 241,000, which Capital Economics said was "extraordinary for the ADP because its revisions usually magically bring its estimates into line with the official non-farm payroll tally".

The Labor Department's non-farm payrolls report is due Friday which is forecast to show a 230,000 increase in January after a 252,000 gain a month earlier.

Barclays Research said: "We have been looking for a moderation in the pace of employment growth following strong hiring in recent quarters and the January ADP report is broadly supportive of this view."