Companies added more workers than projected in September,evidence the labor market may be perking up, a private report basedon payrolls showed.

The 162,000 increase in employment followed a revised 189,000jump in August, figures from Roseland, New Jersey-based ADPEmployer Services showed today. The median forecast of 38economists surveyed by Bloomberg projected a 140,000 advance.

The hiring gains, which were led by companies with fewer than500 workers, will help shore up consumer confidence and spending,which in turn will bolster economic growth. A Labor Departmentreport on Oct. 5 may show private payrolls increased by 128,000 inSeptember and unemployment rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent theprior month, according to the Bloomberg survey median.