ADP National Employment Report Preliminary Estimate for February 28, 2026

Q: What did ADP (ADP) report for the week ending February 28, 2026?

ADP reported a preliminary four-week moving average of 9,000 jobs per week for the week ending February 28, 2026. According to ADP, this reflects a step back in hiring after several weeks of stronger gains and is subject to revision as new data arrive.

Q: How did the February 28, 2026 ADP NER Pulse compare to prior weeks?

The February 28 estimate of 9,000 jobs/week was lower than prior weeks of 14,750 (2/21) and 15,500 (2/14). According to ADP, the data show a pullback after a period of strengthening in late February.

Q: When will ADP (ADP) publish the next NER Pulse after February 28, 2026?

The next NER Pulse will be released on March 24, 2026. According to ADP, the NER Pulse publishes weekly on Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m. ET, except during the monthly National Employment Report reference week.

Q: What does a four-week moving average of 9,000 jobs/week mean for investors using ADP (ADP) data?

A four-week average of 9,000 jobs/week indicates continued payroll additions but at a slower pace than mid-February. According to ADP, investors should view the figure as preliminary and consider revisions as new data are integrated.

ADP (NASDAQ:ADP) released the NER Pulse preliminary estimate for the four weeks ending February 28, 2026, showing U.S. private employers added an average of 9,000 jobs per week.

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Rhea-AI Summary

ADP (NASDAQ:ADP) released the NER Pulse preliminary estimate for the four weeks ending February 28, 2026, showing U.S. private employers added an average of 9,000 jobs per week.

Hiring weakened versus prior weeks (four-week moving averages: 14,750 on 2/21 and 15,500 on 2/14). The NER Pulse is seasonally adjusted, uses a two-week data lag, and will next publish on March 24, 2026.

Positive

Payrolls positive: average 9,000 jobs/week added (4‑week average)
High-frequency data: weekly NER Pulse provides timely employment trends

Negative

Hiring slowed 39% from 14,750 (2/21) to 9,000 (2/28)
Four-week average fell from 15,500 (2/14) to 9,000 (2/28)

Argus Mar 17 session

+0.30% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – ADP

On Mar 17, the day this news came out, ADP closed 0.30% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 17 session.

Key Figures

Average weekly jobs: 9,000 jobs Weekly jobs: 14,750 jobs Weekly jobs: 15,500 jobs +5 more

Average weekly jobs: 9,000 jobs; Four weeks ending Feb 28, 2026
Weekly jobs: 14,750 jobs; Four-week moving average, week ending Feb 21, 2026
Weekly jobs: 15,500 jobs; Four-week moving average, week ending Feb 14, 2026
Weekly jobs: 12,000 jobs; Four-week moving average, week ending Feb 7, 2026
Weekly jobs: 11,500 jobs; Four-week moving average, week ending Jan 31, 2026
Historical window: 12 weeks; NER Pulse historical data in each release
Release time: 8:15 a.m. ET; Weekly NER Pulse publication time
Next release date: March 24, 2026; Next NER Pulse publication

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 10

5 events

Mar 10
NER Pulse update

24h Move

-2.5%

Preliminary NER Pulse showed 15,500 average weekly job gains staying steady.
Mar 04
Employment report

24h Move

+0.4%

February report showed 63,000 private jobs added and 4.5% pay growth.
Mar 02
Product launch

24h Move

+0.3%

Launch of AI agents in ADP Marketplace to automate HR and payroll tasks.
Feb 24
NER Pulse update

24h Move

-0.0%

NER Pulse showed 12,750 average weekly job gains and fourth week of strengthening.
Feb 17
NER Pulse update

24h Move

+0.5%

NER Pulse indicated 10,250 average weekly job gains and third straight improvement.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

four-week moving average, seasonally adjusted, high-frequency data

3 terms

four-week moving average technical

"The NER Pulse is an estimate of the week-over-week change in employment based on a four-week moving average."

A four-week moving average takes the most recent four weekly values of a data series (like price, sales, or trading volume), averages them, and updates that average each week by dropping the oldest week and adding the newest. It smooths out short-term ups and downs—like looking at a smoothed path instead of every single bump—so investors can more easily see underlying trends, spot momentum changes, and avoid reacting to temporary noise.

seasonally adjusted technical

"The data is seasonally adjusted and have a two-week lag to allow for more complete and accurate estimates"

Seasonally adjusted means that figures have been modified to remove the effects of regular and predictable changes that happen at specific times of the year, such as holidays or weather patterns. This adjustment helps reveal the true underlying trend by making comparisons across different periods more accurate. For investors, it provides a clearer picture of whether economic activity is genuinely improving or declining, without the noise of seasonal fluctuations.

high-frequency data technical

"These estimates are based on ADP's finely tuned, high-frequency data."

High-frequency data are streams of very frequent, time-stamped information about market activity — for example prices, trade sizes, and order flow updated many times per second. Investors use it like a high-speed camera to see short-lived patterns and reactions that slower reports miss, helping with rapid trading decisions, measuring market liquidity, and detecting unusual activity that can affect short-term risk and execution costs.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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03/17/2026 - 08:15 AM

ROSELAND, N.J., March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For the four weeks ending February 28, 2026, U.S. private employers added an average of 9,000 jobs per week, according to the NER Pulse, a weekly update of the monthly ADP National Employment Report (NER).

After several weeks of strengthening, hiring took a step back at the end of February. These numbers are preliminary and could change as new data is added.

Week ending	Change (Four-week moving average, seasonally adjusted)
2/28/2026	9,000
2/21/2026	14,750
2/14/2026	15,500
2/7/2026	12,000
1/31/2026	11,500
1/24/2026	7,250
1/17/2026	5,500
1/10/2026	4,250
1/3/2026	8,000
12/27/2025	4,250
12/20/2025	8,000
12/13/2025	9,500

The NER Pulse is an estimate of the week-over-week change in employment based on a four-week moving average. These estimates are based on ADP's finely tuned, high-frequency data. The data is seasonally adjusted and have a two-week lag to allow for more complete and accurate estimates of real-time employment trends.

The NER Pulse, including 12 weeks of historical data, publishes every Tuesday at 8:15 a.m. ET, except weeks when ADP Research publishes the monthly National Employment Report which is built on a reference week that includes the 12^th day of the month. The press release is available Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m. ET in the ADP Media Center. The NER Pulse is also available shortly after 8:15 a.m. ET on release days at ADP Research and in Main Street Macro.

The next NER Pulse will be released March 24, 2026. For upcoming release dates please refer to the calendar on the NER website.

The ADP National Employment Report and the NER Pulse are produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab.

About ADP Research
The mission of ADP Research is to make the future of work more productive through data-driven discovery. Companies, workers, and policy makers rely on our finely tuned data and unique perspective to make informed decisions that impact workplaces around the world.

To subscribe to monthly email alerts or obtain additional information about ADP Research, including employment and pay data, methodology, and a calendar of release dates, please visit https://www.adpresearch.com.

About ADP (NASDAQ: ADP)
ADP has been shaping the world of work with innovation and expertise for more than 75 years. As a global leader in HR and payroll solutions, ADP continuously works to solve business challenges for our clients and their workers, from simple, easy-to-use tools for small businesses to fully integrated platforms for global enterprises – and everything in between. Always Designing for People means we're focused on just that – people. We use our unmatched AI-driven insights and proven expertise to design innovative solutions that help people achieve greater success at work. More than 1.1 million clients across 140+ countries rely on ADP's exceptional service to support their people and drive their business forward. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits, Compliance, and Payroll. Learn more at ADP.com.

ADP, the ADP logo, and Always Designing for People, ADP National Employment Report, and ADP Research are registered trademarks of ADP, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adp-national-employment-report-preliminary-estimate-for-february-28-2026-302715250.html

SOURCE ADP, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did ADP (ADP) report for the week ending February 28, 2026?

ADP reported a preliminary four-week moving average of 9,000 jobs per week for the week ending February 28, 2026. According to ADP, this reflects a step back in hiring after several weeks of stronger gains and is subject to revision as new data arrive.

How did the February 28, 2026 ADP NER Pulse compare to prior weeks?

The February 28 estimate of 9,000 jobs/week was lower than prior weeks of 14,750 (2/21) and 15,500 (2/14). According to ADP, the data show a pullback after a period of strengthening in late February.

When will ADP (ADP) publish the next NER Pulse after February 28, 2026?

The next NER Pulse will be released on March 24, 2026. According to ADP, the NER Pulse publishes weekly on Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m. ET, except during the monthly National Employment Report reference week.

How reliable is the ADP NER Pulse (ADP) for real-time employment trends?

The NER Pulse uses ADP's high-frequency payroll data and a four-week moving average to estimate weekly changes, improving timeliness. According to ADP, estimates are seasonally adjusted and carry a two-week lag to increase completeness and accuracy.

What does a four-week moving average of 9,000 jobs/week mean for investors using ADP (ADP) data?

A four-week average of 9,000 jobs/week indicates continued payroll additions but at a slower pace than mid-February. According to ADP, investors should view the figure as preliminary and consider revisions as new data are integrated.

Where can investors access the ADP (ADP) NER Pulse and historical data?

Investors can find the NER Pulse and 12 weeks of historical data on ADP Research and Main Street Macro shortly after 8:15 a.m. ET on release days. According to ADP, the full calendar and releases are available on the NER website.

ADP National Employment Report Preliminary Estimate for February 28, 2026