US business hiring improves

U.S. businesses increased hiring in April, a private-sector survey said Wednesday, indicating the economy may be improving after a weak beginning to 2014. Payroll processor ADP reported that private-sector employers added 220,000 jobs this month, the most since November and up from 209,000 in March. The report said most of the hiring happened in service industries such as retail, transportation, and professional services. Construction companies added 19,000 jobs, but manufacturing added only 1,000. The ADP figures suggest that the government’s more comprehensive jobs report, to be released Friday, could show a healthy gain. Economists expect the report will show employers added 215,000 jobs in April, which would be the most in five months.