ADP Reports 86000 Private Sector Jobs Added in October

US private employers added 86,000 jobs in October, maintaining the previous month's hiring pace as employment gains extended across several industries. Payroll processing firm ADP released the figures Wednesday, November 4, 2026, reporting growth slightly above economists' expectations of 75,000 jobs.

The October increase matched September's downwardly revised total, according to ADP. Most new positions came from service-related industries, particularly trade, transportation and utilities.

Trade, transportation and utilities recorded the largest increase, adding 39,000 jobs. Education and health services contributed 28,000 positions, while leisure and hospitality added 19,000.

Other industries also reported employment growth. Financial activities added 15,000 jobs, construction gained 13,000, and other services increased employment by 10,000.

However, several sectors experienced declines that offset part of those gains. Professional and business services lost 27,000 jobs, natural resources and mining shed 8,000, and information services recorded a reduction of 2,000 positions.

Wage growth remained positive, with employees switching jobs receiving larger increases than those who stayed with their current employers. ADP reported that job changers experienced annual pay growth of 4.8%, compared with 3% for workers who remained in their positions.

Across the workforce, base pay increased 3.2% annually, while gross pay rose 4.7%, according to ADP.

ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson attributed the stronger compensation gains among job changers to additional financial incentives and working hours.

"Employers of all sizes were hiring last month, and our data suggests that job-changers were lured by a combination of bonuses, overtime, and more hours in addition to higher base pay," said Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist. "Taken together, earnings growth for these workers hit its fastest pace since March 2024."

Employment gains extended across companies of different sizes. Businesses employing between 50 and 499 workers added 33,000 positions, while large companies increased payrolls by 24,000. Small businesses contributed another 28,000 jobs.

The wage figures come as workers show increased willingness to leave their existing positions. A separate report released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the number of Americans quitting their jobs reached its highest level since March 2025.

The increase in voluntary departures is an indicator of labor market mobility, reflecting workers' movement between employers.

ADP's employment report provides an early indication of private-sector hiring ahead of the federal government's broader employment figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release its October nonfarm payrolls report Friday, November 6, 2026.

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect the government report to show an increase of 59,000 jobs, following September's modest gain of 29,000.