ADP Jobs Report Beats Forecasts

ADP jobs report showed private payrolls rose 63,000 in February and annual pay grew 4.5%, giving traders context ahead of the official payrolls.

March 04, 2026·1 min read
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Flat vector of a workforce cluster with construction helmet and medical cross symbolizing ADP jobs report hiring and wages.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Private payrolls rose by 63,000 jobs in February, above economist expectations.
  • Annual pay growth rose 4.5% year-over-year in February.
  • Hiring concentrated in health services and construction, marking the largest monthly gain in four months.

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The ADP jobs report showed private payrolls rose in February, marking the largest monthly gain in four months. Hiring concentrated in health services and construction, while annual pay growth accelerated, adding context ahead of the official payrolls release.

Private Payrolls Exceed Expectations

ADP reported in a press release on March 4, 2026, that private-sector employment increased by 63,000 jobs in February, up from a revised 11,000 in January. This was the largest monthly gain in four months. Economists had forecast 48,000 to 50,000 new private-sector jobs for February.

Wage Growth and Sector Hiring

Annual pay growth rose 4.5% year-over-year in February. Hiring was concentrated in health services and construction. The ADP National Employment Report was produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. ADP’s private-payroll survey often diverges from the Bureau of Labor Statistics nonfarm payrolls, which are scheduled for release on Friday.

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