Hiring slowed in February as economic uncertainty created 'hesitancy' to add jobs last month, ADP data shows

Published On Mar 5, 2025, 9:51 AM

Hiring in the U.S. slowed significantly in February, with private sector job additions falling to 77,000, far below economists' expectations of 140,000. This marks the largest decline in job additions since March 2023, raising concerns about a possible economic slowdown. Contributing factors include policy uncertainty, decreased consumer spending, and challenges in various sectors such as retail and housing. Economists are keenly watching consumer trends as they could signal further economic challenges, but some experts still see a resilient labor market overall.