U.S. businesses added 90,000 private-sector jobs in September, significantly exceeding economists’ expectations and marking a sharp rebound from the previous month’s revised hiring figure.

Payroll processor ADP reported Wednesday that private employers added 90,000 workers to their payrolls in September, up from a revised gain of 36,000 jobs in August.

Economists had expected businesses to add roughly 70,000 jobs, making the September increase substantially stronger than anticipated.

“It’s a strong report,” said Dr. Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist. “After a three-month slowdown, job creation rebounded, and pay growth remained solid.”

Hiring gains were spread across several major industries. Education and health services led the gains with 55,000 new jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with 22,000. Manufacturing added 17,000 workers, while construction added 15,000.

The information sector added 3,000 jobs. Financial services lost 16,000 workers, while professional and business services shed 11,000.

Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees added 23,000 jobs. Medium-sized companies with between 50 and 500 workers added 54,000, while large businesses added 14,000.

Pay also continued to rise. ADP said wages for workers who remained in their jobs increased 3% year over year in August, while workers who changed jobs saw pay increases of 4.8%.

Construction workers saw wages rise 4%, while manufacturing and financial services both recorded 3.5% increases, making them among the strongest sectors for pay growth.

The September figures provide a stronger reading on private-sector hiring after several months of slower job creation, while the broader labor market continues to be closely watched for signs of whether businesses are maintaining or scaling back hiring.