Private US Employers Added Fewer Jobs Than Expected in March

U.S. businesses added fewer jobs than expected last month as employers became more cautious because of concerns about slowing economic growth. 

Payroll provider ADP’s National Employment Report showed private sector employment was up by 145,000, down from the upwardly-revised 261,000 jump in February and below economists’ forecasts. 

Hiring in the services sector, which has led the labor market comeback after the COVID-19 slump, slowed considerably. Just 75,000 new jobs were created, 115,000 fewer than the month before. Leisure and hospitality led the gains (+98,000); followed by trade, transportation, and utilities (+56,000); education and health services (+17,000); and other services (+8,000). Jobs were lost in financial activities (-51,000); professional and business services (-46,000); and information (-7,000).

In the goods producing sector, businesses increased employment by 70,000, with advances in construction (+53,000), as well as natural resources and mining (+47,000). Hiring decreased in manufacturing (-30,000).

Slowing Pay Growth

ADP noted that wage growth decelerated for those who stayed at their jobs and those who changed jobs. Annual hikes for job stayers rose to 6.9% in March from 7.2% in February. Job changers had a 14.2% rise versus 14.4% the month before. 

Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP, said the report is “one of several signals that the economy is slowing.” She explained that employers “are pulling back” from a year when they boosted hiring and offered higher compensation. She pointed out that increases in pay are inching downward after a three-month plateau. 

The Labor Department is set to release the March nonfarm payroll report on Friday. Estimates are that the economy posted a gain of 240,000 jobs.