ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 44,000 Jobs in July; Annual Pay was Up 4.4%
Rhea-AI Summary
ADP (NASDAQ: ADP) reported that U.S. private-sector employment increased by 44,000 jobs in July 2026, while median annual pay for job-stayers rose 4.4% year over year. The July ADP National Employment Report is produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, using anonymized payroll data from more than 26 million workers.
Goods-producing employers shed 3,000 jobs and service-providing employers added 47,000. Education and health services led gains with 36,000 jobs, while leisure and hospitality fell 11,000. The Northeast added 37,000 jobs, and small establishments accounted for 23,000 of the total increase.
Pay growth for job-changers accelerated to 7.0%, the fastest since August 2025. Median pay gains for job-stayers ranged from 4.0% to 5.2% across major industries, and from 2.4% at the smallest firms to 4.8% at large firms. According to ADP, June’s job gains were revised from 98,000 to 95,000. The next ADP National Employment Report is scheduled for September 2, 2026.
Positive
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Negative
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Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28 | July preliminary estimate | Negative | +3.6% | Hiring slowed for the fifth consecutive week in the preliminary NER Pulse estimate. |
| Jul 21 | July preliminary estimate | Negative | -3.5% | Hiring slowed for the fourth consecutive week in the preliminary NER Pulse estimate. |
| Jul 14 | June preliminary estimate | Negative | -1.8% | Hiring slowed for the third consecutive week in the preliminary NER Pulse estimate. |
| Jul 07 | June preliminary estimate | Negative | +2.5% | Hiring slowed for a second consecutive week in the preliminary NER Pulse estimate. |
| Jul 01 | June employment report | Positive | +5.3% | June employment increased by 98,000 jobs while annual pay growth remained positive. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
ADP's recent employment updates produced mixed 24-hour reactions, with positive monthly reports aligning more consistently than preliminary weekly estimates.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
The ADP National Employment Report is an independent measure of the labor market based on the anonymized weekly payroll data of more than 26 million private-sector employees in
"Job-changers are highly sensitive to real-time economic conditions, and their rapid pay growth implies supply constraints in parts of the labor market," said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. "Typical hiring patterns, meanwhile, are changing as employers react to shifting macro-economic conditions."
July 2026 Report Highlights
View the ADP National Employment Report and interactive charts at www.adpemploymentreport.com.
JOBS REPORT
Private employers added 44,000 jobs in July
Sector-level hiring was choppy last month, but pay sent a clear signal. Year-over-year pay for job-changers accelerated to its fastest pace of growth in nearly a year.
Change in
Change by Industry
- Goods-producing: -3,000
- Natural resources/mining -6,000
- Construction 1,000
- Manufacturing 2,000
- Service-providing: 47,000
- Trade/transportation/utilities -8,000
- Information 5,000
- Financial activities 10,000
- Professional/business services 9,000
- Education/health services 36,000
- Leisure/hospitality -11,000
- Other services 6,000
Change by
- Northeast: 37,000
- New England 16,000
- Mid-Atlantic 21,000
- Midwest: -9,000
- East North Central -11,000
- West North Central 2,000
- South: 9,000
- South Atlantic -8,000
- East South Central 2,000
- West South Central 15,000
- West: 7,000
- Mountain -4,000
- Pacific 11,000
Change by Establishment Size
- Small establishments: 23,000
- 1-19 employees 27,000
- 20-49 employees -4,000
- Medium establishments: 8,000
- 50-249 employees 2,000
- 250-499 employees 6,000
- Large establishments: 13,000
- 500+ employees 13,000
PAY INSIGHTS
Pay growth for job-changers accelerated in July
Pay gains for job-stayers held steady at 4.4 percent last month, while pay growth for job-changers rose to 7 percent, the largest year-over-year increase since August 2025.
Median Change in Annual Pay
- Job-stayers
- Job-changers
Median Change in Annual Pay for Job-Stayers by Industry
- Goods-producing:
- Natural resources/mining
4.0% - Construction
4.5% - Manufacturing
5.0%
- Service-providing:
- Trade/transportation/utilities
4.4% - Information
4.0% - Financial activities
5.2% - Professional/business services
4.1% - Education/health services
4.1% - Leisure/hospitality
4.4% - Other services
4.1%
Median Change in Annual Pay for Job-Stayers by Firm Size
- Small firms:
- 1-19 employees
2.4% - 20-49 employees
4.0%
- Medium firms:
- 50-249 employees
4.7% - 250-499 employees
4.8%
- Large firms:
- 500+ employees
4.8%
To see Pay Insights by
The June total number of jobs added was revised from 98,000 to 95,000.
For additional information about the ADP National Employment Report, including historical files, employment and pay data, methodology, and a calendar of release dates, please visit https://adpemploymentreport.com/.
The August 2026 ADP National Employment Report will be released on September 2, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. ET.
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.