ADP August Report: Private Payrolls Add Just 38,000 Jobs, Slowest Since January

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 4, 2026

ADP's August private payroll report came in sharply below forecasts at only 38,000 jobs added, the weakest monthly gain since January. Health care, leisure, and construction drove what growth there was, while manufacturing and professional services shed workers — a direct concern for staffing firms serving those sectors. Wage growth remained stable, but rising AI uncertainty and cautious consumer spending signal potential softening in placement demand heading into Q4.