However, ADP expects a decline in the number of average work-site employees in the first three quarter this year, a figure not turning up until the fourth quarter.

Previously, ADP had forecast a revenue decline of 1 percent to 4 percent off for fiscal 2021. It now thinks that will range from a drop of 1 percent to a 1-percent rise in sales. It also said instead of seeing a 13-percent to 18-percent drop in earnings per share that will range between 3 percent to 7 percent.

That change reflected improvements during the first quarter.

CEO Carlos Rodriquez said a 2-percent growth in employer services new business bookings, “was significantly ahead of our expectations and marked a record Q1 performance.” He continud, "employment small businesses continued to show the most improvement, while large businesses actually showed some degradation as we exited the first quarter.”

Net income rose to $601 million for the most recently ended period, a 3-percent increase from $582.4 million. Revenue was reported at $3.47 billion, up from slightly less than $3.5 billion in last year’s corresponding period.