Job postings in the United States are on the rise for the first time since 2022, even as the labor force shrinks and worker confidence hits a record low. The ADP National Employment report showed the private-sector labor market added 90,000 jobs in September, one of its strongest readings since May, with wages also increasing. Growth in postings is concentrated in data technology and software development, while healthcare and education also offer opportunities. Economists expect the unemployment rate, at 4.1%, to shift little this year or next, but the labor market has been reshaped by retiring baby boomers, reduced immigration and fewer women in the workforce. Job seekers who were out of work in August have been searching for roughly six months, and many employed workers are staying put amid uncertainty and stagnant wages.
Automatic Data Processing IncADP's own National Employment report showed 90,000 private-sector jobs added in September, one of its strongest readings since May, boosting its data-services franchise.
