Economics

U.S. Employment Is Looking Cooler Ahead of Friday’s June Jobs Data

ADP figure trails forecasts, ISM employment gauge weakens
Decline in jobless claims shows labor market remains tight

A factory worker uses a power drill to assemble components on a diesel engine in Seymour, Indiana.Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg

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By Jeff Kearns and Katia Dmitrieva

July 3, 2019 at 4:25 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

U.S. labor market data flashed mixed signals Wednesday ahead of the marquee monthly jobs report for June, with several private reports weakening while jobless claims improved.

Hiring at U.S. companies rebounded by less than forecast in June, to 102,000 jobs from a nine-year low of 41,000 in May, according to ADP Research Institute data. The Institute for Supply Management said its measure of employment growth in service industries posted the steepest drop in 16 months. Applications for unemployment benefits, meanwhile, declined for the second time in three weeks and remain near the lowest since 1969, government figures showed.