DHAKA: US businesses added just 139,000 jobs in February, modest growth due in part to bad winter weather and job losses in financial services, payrolls firm ADP said on Wednesday.

Last month’s job expansion was well below the average of 186,000 over the prior 12 months. The reading missed expectations of 150,000 net new jobs, reports The Straits Times.

ADP significantly revised downward January’s number to 127,000 jobs, from a prior estimate of 175,000.

‘February was another soft month for the job market. Employment was weak across a number of industries. Bad winter weather, especially in mid-month, weighed on payrolls,’ said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, which helps to compile the report.

BDST: 2049 HRS, MAR 05, 2014