Private-sector employers in the US added 44,000 jobs in July 2026, the weakest increase in six months. The figure followed a downwardly revised gain of 95,000 in June and fell short of market expectations of 70,000.
The services sector generated 47,000 new positions, driven primarily by education and health services (+36,000), financial activities (+10,000), professional and business services (+9,000), and information (+5,000). These gains were partly offset by job losses in trade, transportation, and utilities (-8,000) and in leisure and hospitality (-11,000).
In contrast, the goods-producing sector shed 3,000 jobs. A decline in natural resources and mining (-6,000) more than offset modest gains in manufacturing (+2,000) and construction (+1,000).
On an annual basis, pay growth for workers who stayed in their jobs held steady at 4.4%. Wage growth for job changers accelerated to 7%, the fastest pace since August 2025. “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 at ADP.