US private employers added an average of 16,500 jobs per week in the four weeks ending July 4, 2026, according to the ADP Research Institute, down from an average weekly gain of 19,250 in the previous four-week period. The figures marked a fourth consecutive slowdown in hiring, reinforcing signs of a cooling labor market. The trend is consistent with ADP's June employment report, which showed private payrolls increased by 98,000, the weakest gain in three months and below market expectations of 113,000.