ADP National Employment Report: Private-Sector Employment Increased by 90,000 Jobs in September
The September report incorporates first-quarter QCEW data issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on August 28, 2026.
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Rhea-AI Summary
ADP (ADP) reported that U.S. private-sector employers added 90,000 jobs in September, with hiring accelerating for the first time since May. Education and health services added 55,000 jobs, while leisure and hospitality added 22,000. Manufacturing added 17,000 and construction added 15,000. Financial activities lost 16,000 jobs, and professional and business services lost 11,000; trade, transportation, and utilities were unchanged.
Medium establishments added 54,000 jobs, compared with 23,000 at small establishments and 14,000 at large establishments. Median base pay rose 3.2% year over year across all workers, while median gross pay increased 4.7%. Job-stayers recorded base-pay growth of 3.0% and gross-pay growth of 4.4%; job-changers recorded increases of 4.8% and 7.3%, respectively. August's employment gain was revised from 38,000 to 36,000.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Base pay rose
Base pay for private-sector workers rose
- Base pay for job-stayers rose
3.0% year-over-year; base pay for job-changers increased4.8% . - Gross pay for job-stayers rose
4.4% year-over year; gross pay for job-changers increased7.3% .
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
Together, these reports use ADP's finely-grained data to provide a representative and high-frequency picture of the private-sector labor market.
"It's a strong report," said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. "After a three-month slowdown, job creation rebounded and pay growth remained solid."
September 2026 Report Highlights
View the ADP National Employment Report and interactive charts at www.adpemploymentreport.com.
EMPLOYMENT REPORT
Private employers added 90,000 jobs in September
Hiring accelerated for the first time since May, led by education and health care and leisure and hospitality. Financial activities and professional and business services showed weakness.
Change in
Change by Sector
- Goods-producing: 31,000
- Natural resources and mining -1,000
- Construction 15,000
- Manufacturing 17,000
- Service-providing: 59,000
- Trade, transportation, and utilities 0
- Information 3,000
- Financial activities -16,000
- Professional and business services -11,000
- Education and health services 55,000
- Leisure and hospitality 22,000
- Other services 6,000
Change by
- Northeast: 56,000
- New England 9,000
- Mid-Atlantic 47,000
- Midwest: 5,000
- East North Central -10,000
- West North Central 15,000
- South: 11,000
- South Atlantic -10,000
- East South Central -1,000
- West South Central 22,000
- West: 17,000
- Mountain 18,000
- Pacific -1,000
Change by Establishment Size
- Small establishments: 23,000
- 1-19 employees 18,000
- 20-49 employees 5,000
- Medium establishments: 54,000
- 50-249 employees 18,000
- 250-499 employees 36,000
- Large establishments: 14,000
- 500+ employees 14,000
PAY INSIGHTS
ADP Pay Insights provides base pay growth and gross pay growth data across worker mobility, demographics, sector, employer size, pay quartile, and 56 U.S. metropolitan areas. The report also now offers pay growth distribution and an interactive data platform.
Base pay growth was little changed in September
Pay rose 3.0 percent for job-stayers year over year, and 4.8 percent for job-changers.
Visit our interactive platform for more information.
Median Change in Base Pay
- All workers
3.2% - Job-stayers
3.0% - Job-changers
4.8%
Median Change in Gross Pay
- All workers
4.7% - Job-stayers
4.4% - Job-changers
7.3%
Median Change in Base Pay by Sector
- Goods-producing:
- Natural resources and mining
3.3% - Construction
4.0% - Manufacturing
3.5%
- Service-providing:
- Trade, transportation, and utilities
3.4% - Information
3.1% - Financial activities
3.5% - Professional and business services
3.2% - Education and health services
3.0% - Leisure and hospitality
3.0% - Other services
3.0%
Median Change in Base Pay by Firm Size
- Medium firms:
- 50-249 employees
3.5% - 250-499 employees
3.3%
- Large firms:
- 500+ employees
3.2%
To see Pay Insights by
The August total number of jobs added was revised from 38,000 to 36,000.
Beginning with this month's release, the National Employment Report incorporates first-quarter Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on August 28, 2026.
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 October 2026 ADP National Employment Report will be released on November 4, 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.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
How many private-sector jobs did ADP report for September 2026?
ADP reported that U.S. private-sector employment increased by 90,000 jobs in September 2026. Hiring accelerated for the first time since May, led by education and health services and leisure and hospitality. August's job gain was revised from 38,000 to 36,000.
How much did pay grow in ADP's September 2026 report?
Median base pay increased 3.2% year over year for all workers, while median gross pay rose 4.7%. For job-stayers, the respective increases were 3.0% and 4.4%. For job-changers, they were 4.8% and 7.3%.
What data underlies ADP's National Employment Report and Pay Insights?
The employment report uses anonymized weekly payroll data covering more than 26 million U.S. private-sector employees. ADP Research produces it in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. Pay Insights compares individual workers' pay over 12-month intervals, generating more than 14.7 million year-over-year pay-change observations each month.