Overview
- JOLTS reported November openings fell to 7.146 million with hires easing to 5.115 million, and October figures were revised down.
- Layoffs remained historically low and quits ticked higher, underscoring a low‑hire, low‑fire labor market with reduced churn.
- ADP estimated private payrolls rose by 41,000 in December, below expectations, with gains led by education and health and leisure and hospitality.
- Professional and business services and information shed jobs in ADP’s data, manufacturing also declined, and small and mid‑sized firms drove most hiring as large employers added 2,000 roles.
- Economists note ADP often diverges from the BLS count; Friday’s official report is forecast to show roughly 60,000–73,000 job gains and a 4.5% unemployment rate.