A survey of private employment in the U.S. showed another 522,000 jobs were lost in January.
The private employment survey figure suggests that forecasts for 535,000 job losses in Friday's official statistics may be a fair estimate.
Economists had been expecting a 535,000 decline in employment in the month. The previous month's print was slightly revised to -659k from a previous estimate of -693k.
This is the second month ADP has been using a new methodology, which is intended to provide a more accurate picture of the labour market.
By Megan Ainscow and edited by Stephen Huebl
©CEP News Ltd. 2009