US private-sector hiring showed signs of stabilising in early May 2026 as employers continued adding jobs despite ongoing economic uncertainty, signalling cautious workforce resilience across industries.
According to the latest preliminary estimate from the ADP National Employment Report, U.S. private employers added an average of 42,250 jobs per week over the four weeks ending May 2, 2026. The report noted that hiring strengthened for the second consecutive week, indicating gradual improvement in labour market momentum.
The latest figures represent an increase from the previous four-week average of 33,000 jobs reported for the period ending April 25, suggesting employers are maintaining selective hiring despite persistent concerns around inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and slowing economic growth.
The ADP data follows a stronger-than-expected April employment report, where private-sector employment increased by 109,000 jobs, the largest monthly gain in 15 months. Annual pay growth for workers who stayed in their jobs rose 4.4% year-over-year, reflecting continued wage pressure across the labour market.
Recent hiring gains have been led primarily by education, healthcare, trade, transportation, and utilities sectors, while professional and business services, including many white-collar and technology-related roles, continued to experience softer hiring activity.
ADP’s latest workforce data also suggests uneven hiring patterns across company sizes. Small and large employers have shown relatively stronger hiring momentum, while mid-sized businesses continue to remain more cautious amid operational cost pressures and broader economic uncertainty.
The report adds to growing indications that the US labour market remains stable but cautious, with organisations balancing talent needs against ongoing uncertainty linked to inflation, energy prices, geopolitical tensions, and AI-driven workforce transformation.