SIGN OF PRE-VIRUS HEALTH: U.S. ADDED 183K JOBS IN FEB.

WASHINGTON» U.S. businesses added 183,000 jobs last month, a solid gain that shows the economy was largely healthy when the coronavirus outbreak spread further around the globe.

Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that February’s hiring was down from 209,000 in the previous month. Manufacturing and mining firms shed jobs last month, while hiring in health care and a category mostly made up of hotels and restaurants was strong.

Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, which helps prepare the report, said the figures were compiled the week of Feb. 12, before the viral outbreak was widespread outside China.

He said warm weather likely boosted job gains in construction, which added 18,000 positions, and in the hotels and restaurants category, which gained 44,000. That suggests hiring in those industries could slip in the coming months.