US private employers added 41,000 new positions in December, according to data from the private payroll processor ADP, offering a positive sign for a labor market that struggled as 2025 came to a close.
Today’s report shows December’s gains essentially erasing November’s losses. Before December, private-sector payrolls had fallen in three of the four preceding months.
Companies added 41,000 jobs for the month, reversing November’s 29,000 loss.
Payroll growth was solely driven by the services sector, with education and health fields adding 39,000 jobs, and leisure and hospitality contributing 24,000. Additionally, trade, transportation, and utilities increased by 11,000 jobs, while financial services grew by 6,000.
Losses of 29,000 occurred in professional and business services, and 12,000 in information services. Goods-producing industries lost 3,000, primarily due to a drop of 5,000 in manufacturing.
In the report, ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said, “Small establishments recovered from November job losses with positive end-of-year hiring, even as large employers pulled back.”
Wage growth remained moderate, with employees in the same job experiencing a 4.4% annual increase.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
