US Private Hiring Slows for Fourth Straight Week, ADP Data Shows
US private employers added an average of 16,500 jobs weekly through July 4, down from 19,750 the prior week.
US private employers averaged just 16,500 new hires per week during the four weeks ending July 4, 2026, according to ADP's NER Pulse report released this week — marking the fourth consecutive week of slowing job growth and signaling potential softness in the broader labor market.
The figure represents a notable step down from the prior week's average of 19,750, underscoring a decelerating pace of private-sector employment gains. While a single report does not constitute a trend, four straight weeks of deceleration draws attention from economists and market watchers tracking labor market resilience.
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The NER Pulse is published three times monthly by Main Street Macro and measures week-over-week employment changes using a four-week moving average. The data is seasonally adjusted and carries a two-week lag designed to ensure more complete and accurate real-time estimates. ADP does not release the NER Pulse during weeks when its full National Employment Report — anchored to a reference week that includes the 12th of each month — is published.
The preliminary nature of the figures means they are subject to revision as additional data flows in, so analysts typically treat early readings as directional signals rather than definitive benchmarks. Still, persistent deceleration over a month-long window raises questions about whether cooling demand, tighter financial conditions, or broader economic uncertainty is beginning to weigh on employers' willingness to expand payrolls.
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