ADP National Employment Report Preliminary Estimate for February 28, 2026
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)
News Market Reaction – ADP
In the Mar 17 session, ADP gained 0.30%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10 | NER Pulse update | Positive | -2.5% | Preliminary NER Pulse showed 15,500 average weekly job gains staying steady. |
| Mar 04 | Employment report | Positive | +0.4% | February report showed 63,000 private jobs added and 4.5% pay growth. |
| Mar 02 | Product launch | Positive | +0.3% | Launch of AI agents in ADP Marketplace to automate HR and payroll tasks. |
| Feb 24 | NER Pulse update | Positive | -0.0% | NER Pulse showed 12,750 average weekly job gains and fourth week of strengthening. |
| Feb 17 | NER Pulse update | Positive | +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.
ADP’s macro/employment and product news has often seen modest price reactions, with some divergence on employment releases despite generally positive labor and pay data.
Over recent months, ADP has regularly published NER Pulse employment estimates and broader labor reports, alongside product innovation and earnings updates. Prior NER Pulse releases on Jan 31, Feb 7, and Feb 21, 2026 all highlighted continued job gains and strengthening or steady trends, yet price reactions were small and sometimes negative. A February labor report showed 63,000 job additions and 4.5% pay growth, and an AI agents launch on Mar 2, 2026 drew a modest positive move. Today’s update fits this pattern of incremental macro data with limited stock impact.
Key Terms
four-week moving average technical
seasonally adjusted technical
high-frequency data technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
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 |
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 12th 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.
Copyright © 2026 ADP, Inc. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE ADP, Inc.