ADP Jobs Report March 2026
ADP jobs report showed 62,000 jobs in March, led by health care, with faster pay gains for job-changers and heightening focus on April 4 BLS payrolls.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Private-sector employment rose 62,000 in March.
- Pay growth was 4.5% for job-stayers and 6.6% for job-changers.
- Gains were concentrated in health care and among smallest employers, narrowing breadth.
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ADP's March jobs report, released April 1, 2026, showed steady private-sector hiring concentrated in health care and rising pay growth for job-changers, a pattern that exceeded economist expectations and sharpens focus on the April 4 BLS nonfarm payrolls.
March Private-Sector Employment and Pay Growth
ADP's National Employment Report showed private-sector jobs increased by 62,000 in March 2026, exceeding the economist consensus of 39,000. This marked a decline of 4,000 from February’s revised total of 66,000, which was up from an initial 63,000. Year-over-year pay growth held steady at 4.5% for job-stayers for the third consecutive month, while pay growth for job-changers accelerated to 6.6%. The March gain represented roughly 43% of the long-term average monthly increase since 2010.
ADP said its next National Employment Report is scheduled for May 6, 2026, at 8:15 a.m. ET.
Sector Concentration and Outlook
Health care was the primary driver of March’s job gains, with the smallest employers leading additions for a second consecutive month. Trade, transportation, and utilities sectors continued to decline. ADP’s chief economist, Dr. Nela Richardson, said, "Overall hiring is steady, but job growth continues to favor certain industries, including health care."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to report on April 4 that nonfarm payrolls added 60,000 jobs in March, following a 92,000 loss in February. The unemployment rate is projected to remain at 4.4%.
