washington april 5 reuters  us private employers hired far fewer workers than expected in march suggesting that the labor market was cooling private employment increased by 145000 jobs last month the adp national employment report showed on wednesday economists polled by reuters had forecast private employment increasing 200000 data for february was revised higher to show 261000 jobs added instead of 242000 as previously reported the labor market is slowing as higher borrowing costs dampen demand in the economy the government reported on tuesday that there were 99 million job openings at the end of february still there were 17 job openings for every unemployed worker in february attesting to the labor markets tightness the adp report jointly developed with the stanford digital economy lab was published ahead of the labor departments bureau of labor statistics more comprehensive and closely watched employment report for march on friday it has not been a reliable gauge in forecasting private payrolls in the bls employment report according to a reuters survey of economists private payrolls likely increased by 215000 jobs in march with gains expected in government employment total nonfarm payrolls are forecast to have risen by 240000 jobs last month after increasing 311000 in february