Private businesses in the US unexpectedly laid off 123K workers in December of 2020, compared to market forecasts of an increase of 88K. It is the first decline in private-sector employment since April, amid a rise in COVID-19 infections and further lockdowns. The service-providing sector shed 105K jobs led by leisure and hospitality (-58K), trade, transportation & utilities (-50K), other services (-12K), and information (-6K). In contrast, professional and business companies added 12K jobs, education and health 8K, and financial activities 2K. The goods-producing sector lost 18K jobs, due to manufacturing (-21K) while natural resources and mining neither hired or fired people while the construction sector added 3K jobs. Private payrolls in large companies were down by 147K and small firms shed 13K while midsized ones added 37K jobs. Considering full 2020, private-sector employment decreased by 9.49 million, compared to a 1.79 million gain in 2019. source: Automatic Data Processing, Inc.