Private payrolls increased by just 128,000 in May, the slowest growth of the recovery, ADP says

Job creation at companies decelerated to the slowest pace of the pandemic-era recovery in May, payroll processing firm ADP reported Thursday.

Private sector employment rose by just 128,000 for the month, falling well short of the 299,000 Dow Jones estimate and a decline from the downwardly revised 202,000 in April, initially reported as a gain of 247,000.

The big drop-off marked the worst month since the massive layoffs in April 2020, when companies sent home more than 19 million workers as the Covid outbreak triggered a massive economic shutdown.

By ADP’s count — which usually differs somewhat from government figures — payrolls had increased by nearly 500,000 a month over the past year.

May’s slowdown in hiring comes amid fears of a broader economic pullback. Inflation running around its highest level in 40 years, the ongoing war in Ukraine and a Covid-induced shutdown in China, which since has been lifted though with conditions, have generated fears that the U.S. could be on the brink of recession.

Small business took the biggest hit during the month, as companies employing fewer than 50 workers reduced payrolls by 91,000. Of that decline, 78,000 layoffs came from businesses with fewer than 20 employees.

“Under a backdrop of a tight labor market and elevated inflation, monthly job gains are closer to pre-pandemic levels,” ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said. “The job growth rate of hiring has tempered across all industries, while small businesses remain a source of concern as they struggle to keep up with larger firms that have been booming as of late.”

The biggest change in the ADP count came in leisure and hospitality, the sector most hit most by restrictions and which has been a leader throughout the recovery. May saw new hires of just 17,000, even as the summer tourism season hits full swing.

Education and health services led sectors with growth of 46,000, while professional and business services was next with 23,000 and manufacturing added 22,000. Service-providing jobs grew by 104,000, while good producers added 24,000.

Companies with 500 or more workers led with payroll gains of 122,000, while mid-size firms contributed 97,000.

The report comes the day before the Bureau of Labor Statistics issues its more closely followed nonfarm payrolls count, which is expected to show a gain of 328,000 following April’s 428,000. The unemployment rate is forecast to edge down to 3.5%, which would tie for the lowest since December 1969.

The BLS count includes government jobs, differing from ADP, which is a tally of private payrolls.