The pace of job creation by private employers accelerated in February, reinforcing hopes that Friday's broader payrolls report would confirm the U.S. labor market recovery is moving ahead. The private sector added 216,000 jobs last month, the ADP National Employment Report showed on Wednesday, beating economists' expectations for a gain of 208,000. January's payrolls figures were revised up to an increase of 173,000 from 170,000. The ADP figures come ahead of the U.S. government's more comprehensive labor market report on Friday, which includes both public and private sector employment.