Private sector added 22,000 jobs in January, well below expectations, ADP says

Companies in the private sector added just 22,000 jobs in January, payroll processing firm ADP said Wednesday.

The figure is well below economists’ estimates of a gain of 48,000 jobs. The prior month's payrolls number was revised lower to a gain of 37,000 from an initially reported gain of 41,000.

"Job creation took a step back in 2025, with private employers adding 398,000 jobs, down from 771,000 in 2024," said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. "While we've seen a continuous and...