U.S. private sector payrolls unexpectedly declined in November, pointing to a sluggish labor market in the home stretch of 2025, new ADP data released on Dec. 3 show.
Private businesses eliminated 32,000 positions last month, following an increase of 47,000 jobs in October, according to the payroll processor’s National Employment Report.
The recent numbers continued the trend of slowing job creation in the second half of 2025, says Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP.
“Hiring has been choppy of late as employers weather cautious consumers and an uncertain macroeconomic environment. And while November’s slowdown was broad-based, it was led by a pullback among small businesses,” Richardson said in a news release….
Small Businesses at Center of November’s Private-Sector Job Losses: ADP
