Private sector employment increased by 213,000 jobs in the U.S. in January from December, according to the ADP National Employment Report released on Wednesday.
Economic Watch: Employers Add More Jobs in January, Service Sector Expands
Private sector employment increased by 213,000 jobs in the U.S. in January from December, according to the ADP National Employment Report released on Wednesday,
This is the lowest rate since September and follows an upwardly revised figure of 253,000 job additions in December.
The report, which comes from payroll processor ADP, is based on actual payroll data, also showed goods-producing employment rose by 31,000 jobs in January, down from 47,000 jobs gained in December.
A federal reported on unemployment is set for release on Friday.
“Employment posted another solid gain in January, although the pace of growth is slower than in recent months,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics. “Businesses in the energy and supplying industries are already scaling back payrolls in reaction to the collapse in oil prices, while industries benefiting from the lower prices have been slower to increase their hiring. All indications are that the job market will continue to improve in 2015.”
The construction industry added 18,000 jobs, down from last month’s gain of 26,000, while manufacturing added 14,000 jobs in January, below December’s 23,000. Service-providing employment rose by 183,000 jobs in January, down from 207,000 in December. (More details are in the graphic at the bottom of this story)
Meantime, a separate report shows economic activity in the nation’s service sector grew in January for the 60th consecutive month, according to the nation’s purchasing and supplies executives.
The latest reading of the Non-Manufacturing Index from the Institute for Supply Management shows it registered 56.7% in January, 0.2 of a percentage point higher than the December reading of 56.5%. A reading over 50% indicates growth while one below this level shows contraction.
“According to the NMI, eight [of the 16] non-manufacturing industries reported growth in January,” said by Anthony Nieves, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “Comments from respondents vary by industry and company, however, they are mostly positive and/or reflect stability about business conditions."
The Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index increased to 61.5%, 2.9 percentage points higher than the December reading while the New Orders Index registered 59.5 percent, 0.3 of a percentage point higher than over the same time period. The Employment Index fell 4.1 percentage points to 51.6% from the December reading of 55.7%, but still indicates growth for the 11th consecutive month.

More Fleet Management

FTR Trucking Conditions Index Hits Four-Year High in February
Strong freight rates push TCI to 10.2, but FTR expects fuel-price volatility to skew March results.
Read More →
C.H. Robinson Offers Carriers Relief as Diesel Prices Surge
C.H. Robinson is waiving fees on fuel cards and cash advances for April and May, aiming to help carriers offset rising diesel costs tied to geopolitical instability.
Read More →
What Trucking Events are Happening in 2026?
Looking for trucking-related conventions, expos, and other events? Heavy Duty Trucking has developed this list of national and larger regional trucking shows and events.
Read More →
Volvo’s Quiet Confidence Turns into a Full-Throated Bet on the Future
After years of steady, methodical progress, Peter Voorhoeve says the OEM’s latest lineup isn’t just evolutionary. It’s delivering real, measurable gains for fleets right now.
Read More →
BeyondTrucks Targets Rate Complexity with New AI RateAgents
BeyondTrucks says its new RateAgents can turn plain-language rate logic into working code, starting with fuel surcharges — a critical but notoriously complex piece of carrier revenue.
Read More →
Volvo Sees Market ‘Tipping Point’ as New VNL Orders Surge
Soft freight conditions persist, but aging fleets, strong order intake, and new-product momentum signal a more optimistic second half of 2026, Volvo Trucks North America says.
Read More →
Cargo Theft’s New Playbook: Strategic Fraud, Double Brokering, and Cybercrime Hit Trucking
Cargo theft is evolving from regional smash-and-grab operations to sophisticated fraud schemes. Strategic theft now accounts for roughly a third of cargo crime, with incidents rising sharply in recent years. Here’s how the schemes work — and what fleets can do to protect themselves.
Read More →
HDT Honors the Best New Products of 2025 at TMC [Photos]
Heavy Duty Trucking's Top 20 Products awards recognize the best new products and technologies. Check out the award presentations at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting.
Read More →
Detroit Engines: Trusted Performance, Built for What's Next
The Detroit® Gen 6 engine platform proves that real progress doesn’t require a complete redesign. Built on 20 years of trusted technology, these engines are designed for efficiency, stronger performance, and greater reliability than before. And they do it all while complying with 2027 EPA standards on every mile.
Read More →
Q&A: What's Real in Advanced Truck Tech? ACT Expo's Erik Neandross Weighs In
The 2026 ACT Expo is focusing heavily on what organizer Erik Neandross calls trucking's digital frontier. This interview excerpt dives into artificial intelligence, zero-emission vehicles, and tips to make sense of it all.
Read More →
