ADP private payrolls miss June forecast at 98,000, healthcare leads hiring

The softer-than-expected private-sector jobs print adds to evidence of cooling labor demand, potentially easing pressure on the Federal Reserve ahead of the official BLS report.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-01 12:17 UTC · 1 min read

Private-sector employers added 98,000 jobs in June, falling short of market expectations, according to data released by ADP.

The report indicates that hiring activity slowed further in the second half of the second quarter, with the healthcare sector accounting for the bulk of new positions.

This marks a continued deceleration in private employment growth, contrasting with the broader economic resilience seen in earlier months.

The miss against consensus estimates reinforces the narrative of a softening labor market, a key variable in the Federal Reserve’s policy calculus.

With inflation remaining a concern but growth showing signs of moderation, a weaker jobs print could bolster the case for a more dovish stance from policymakers.

Markets are likely to interpret this data as a signal that the labor market is no longer overheating, potentially reducing the urgency for further rate hikes or maintaining restrictive policy for longer.