ADP National Employment Report Preliminary Estimate for May 2, 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
ADP (NASDAQ:ADP) reported that for the four weeks ending May 2, 2026, U.S. private employers added an average of 42,250 jobs per week, based on the seasonally adjusted NER Pulse four-week moving average. Hiring strengthened for the second consecutive week, though estimates remain preliminary and subject to revision.
The NER Pulse uses high-frequency ADP payroll data with a two-week lag and publishes Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m. ET. The next release is scheduled for May 27, 2026.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Positive
- None.
Negative
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Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
ADP gained 3.94% while key software peers were mixed: ADBE up 3.37%, INTU up 2.89%, NOW up 4.61%, but CDNS and MSTR were down. Momentum scanner also flagged NOW, INTU, and SNOW moving up, suggesting selective strength rather than a uniform sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12 | Employment pulse update | Positive | +1.0% | Preliminary NER Pulse showed private employers adding 33,000 jobs per week. |
| May 07 | Investor conferences | Positive | +3.3% | Management announced participation in two major May 2026 investor conferences. |
| May 06 | Monthly jobs report | Positive | -1.6% | April NER showed 109,000 private‑sector jobs added and 4.4% pay growth. |
| May 04 | Debt financing | Neutral | -0.3% | Priced $1.0B of 5.000% senior notes due 2036 for general corporate purposes. |
| May 04 | Governance agreement | Positive | -1.4% | WEX and Impactive Capital cooperation agreement; ADP mentioned only indirectly. |
Recent ADP macro and corporate updates often saw modest single‑day price moves, with both positive and negative reactions regardless of generally constructive fundamentals.
Over the past month, ADP has combined solid fundamentals with active capital markets activity. The Apr 30 10‑Q and related 8‑K highlighted revenue of $5.94B and net earnings of $1.36B, both up year over year, and an improved outlook. ADP also issued $1.0B of 5.000% senior notes due 2036 for general corporate purposes including buybacks. Regular employment reports, including the preliminary NER updates on Apr 25 and now May 2, provide ongoing labor‑market visibility that complements these financial developments.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement provides a preliminary NER Pulse estimate showing U.S. private employers added an average of 42,250 jobs per week over the four weeks ending May 2, 2026, based on a seasonally adjusted four‑week moving average. It extends a 12‑week history of high‑frequency employment data that publishes Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m. ET. Investors may track subsequent updates, revisions, and the scheduled May 27, 2026 release to monitor whether this strengthening trend persists.
Key Terms
seasonally adjusted financial
four-week moving average technical
high-frequency data technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Hiring strengthened for the second week in a row. These numbers are preliminary and could change as new data is added.
Week ending | Change (Four-week moving |
5/2/2026 | 42,250 |
4/25/2026 | 33,000 |
4/18/2026 | 30,250 |
4/11/2026 | 39,250 |
4/4/2026 | 40,250 |
3/28/2026 | 40,250 |
3/21/2026 | 26,000 |
3/14/2026 | 15,250 |
3/7/2026 | 10,000 |
2/28/2026 | 9,000 |
2/21/2026 | 14,750 |
2/14/2026 | 15,500 |
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 May 27, 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.