Private-sector employers in the US added a net 62,000 jobs in March 2026, up from a revised gain of 66,000 in February and exceeding market expectations for a 40,000 increase. The data, a key leading indicator, point to continued resilience in the labor market despite economic uncertainty and slower labor force growth linked to reduced immigration.
Education and health services remained the primary engine of job creation, adding 58,000 positions. Additional gains were recorded in construction (30,000), natural resources and mining (11,000), information (16,000), leisure and hospitality (7,000), and financial activities (4,000).
These increases were partly offset by significant losses elsewhere: trade, transportation, and utilities shed a net 58,000 jobs, while manufacturing payrolls fell by 11,000.
“Overall hiring is steady, but job growth continues to favor certain industries, including health care. In March, this solid performance was accompanied by a boost in pay gains for job changers,” said ADP Chief Economist Dr. Nela Richardson.
