U.S. private sector employment expanded by 90,000 positions in September 2026. This growth was driven primarily by gains in healthcare and education, according to data released Wednesday by payroll processing firm ADP.
The latest addition marks a recovery from the downwardly revised 36,000 jobs added in August. It also exceeded the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 68,000.
Service providers accounted for 59,000 of the total gains during the month. Goods producers added 31,000 positions.
Wage statistics showed base pay rising 3.2% from a year ago. Gross pay growth reached 4.7%, reflecting sustained economic momentum following a three-month hiring slowdown.
"It’s a strong report," said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. "After a three-month slowdown, job creation rebounded and pay growth remained solid."
Industry Breakdown: Where Jobs Were Gained and Lost
Job creation was unevenly distributed across sectors. Healthcare, education, and leisure led the expansion, while financial and professional services experienced cutbacks.
- Education and health services: +55,000 positions
- Leisure and hospitality: +22,000 positions
- Manufacturing: +17,000 positions
- Construction: +15,000 positions
- Other services: +6,000 positions
- Information: +3,000 positions
- Trade, transportation, and utilities: Flat (0)
- Natural resources and mining: -1,000 positions
- Professional and business services: -11,000 positions
- Financial activities: -16,000 positions
Regional Growth and Establishment Size Dynamics
Employment growth was heavily concentrated in the Northeast, which added 56,000 jobs. The West contributed 17,000 positions. The South and Midwest added 11,000 and 5,000 jobs, respectively.
Medium-sized establishments, defined as those with between 50 and 499 workers, drove the bulk of the expansion by adding 54,000 roles. Small establishments added 23,000 positions. Large companies with 500 or more employees brought in 14,000 new workers.
Wage Insights and Broader Economic Context
According to ADP Pay Insights, base pay for job-stayers rose 3.0% year-over-year. Job-changers secured an average base pay increase of 4.8%.
Gross pay experienced sharper upward movement. Job-stayers saw a 4.4% increase, while job-changers realized a 7.3% boost.
The ADP report serves as a precursor to the comprehensive employment situation report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Market analysts view the resilient private payroll numbers as confirmation that the broader labor market has stabilized. This keeps the focus squarely on ongoing inflation and upcoming Federal Reserve policy decisions.
