Private companies added just 44,000 workers in July, below expectations, ADP reports

A job seeker holds a flyer for a staffing company as they attend a Inspire Together job and resource fair in Los Angeles, California on July 29, 2026. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesHiring at private companies slowed considerably in July, with most of the job growth coming health care, payrolls processing firm ADP reported Wednesday.Nonfarm job growth excluding government totaled a seasonally adjusted 44,000 for the month, below the downwardly revised 95,000 in June and less than the Dow Jones consensus forecast for 75,000. On net, all of the gains came from the services sector, which added 47,000 while goods-producing companies see a decline of 3,000.Of those jobs, the education and health services sector produced 36,000, continuing a longstanding trend for the industry in leading employment growth. Financial activities added 10,000, professional and business services contributed 9,000 and the other services category saw a gain of 6,000. Trade, transportation and utilities lost 8,000 while natural resources and mining was off 6,000. Manufacturing saw growth of just 2,000 while construction added 1,000.Distribution among company size was relatively balanced, with firms emplo...