#美国ADP数据超预期 US ADP data exceeds expectations: Signals of stabilization in the labor market

I. Core Data

The October employment report released by Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) on November 5, 2025, shows:

• New private sector jobs: 42,000 (far exceeding the expected 28,000-30,000)

• Previous value revision: Adjusted from a reduction of 32,000 to a reduction of 29,000

• Wage growth: 4.5% annual increase for retained employees, 6.7% for job changers

Key Significance: This marks the first positive growth since July 2025, ending two consecutive months of decline, indicating signs of stabilization in the labor market.

II. Industry Distribution: Notable Divergence

Growing Industries:

• Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: +47,000 (main growth engine)

• Education and Health Services: +26,000

• Financial Activities: +11,000

• Construction: +5,000 (turned from negative to positive)

Shrinking Industries:

• Professional and Business Services: -15,000

• Information Industry: -17,000

• Manufacturing: -3,000

Characteristics: Employment growth is mainly concentrated in labor-intensive service industries, while knowledge-intensive sectors continue to shrink, reflecting an adjustment in economic structure.

III. Market Reaction: Positive and "Unusual"

Stock Market: US stock futures turned from decline to rise, indicating increased investor confidence in a soft landing for the economy.

Bond Market: US Treasury yields rose, reflecting improved market expectations for economic prospects.

Foreign Exchange: The US dollar index rose slightly, enhancing the attractiveness of US dollar assets.

Gold: After a brief drop, it quickly rebounded, indicating complex but overall stable market sentiment.

Unusual Phenomenon: Typically, unexpectedly strong employment data would lower rate cut expectations and lead to a stock market decline, but this time the market reacted positively, indicating that investors interpreted it as "economic resilience rather than overheating."

IV. Federal Reserve Position: Rate Cut Path Unchanged

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Milan commented, "The ADP data is a welcome surprise, but current interest rates still have room for adjustment."

He emphasized: "The labor market shows moderate growth, wage increases are gradually slowing, and Fed policy remains too restrictive, making continued rate cuts reasonable."

Market Expectations: The CME "FedWatch" tool shows the probability of a 25 basis point rate cut in December rising from 70% to 85%.

Key Background: Due to the federal government shutdown, the official non-farm data release was delayed, making the ADP report an important reference for the Fed's assessment of the labor market.

V. Data Interpretation: Signals of Economic "Soft Landing"

1. Employment Resilience: Ending consecutive declines, showing that the labor market has not entered recession, with economic resilience stronger than expected.

2. Moderate Growth: The increase of 42,000 is far below early-year levels, indicating moderate expansion and controllable inflationary pressures.

3. Structural Divergence: Growth in services and contraction in manufacturing align with the trend of the economy transitioning to a service-led model.

4. Wage Stability: The 4.5% wage growth for retained employees has been maintained for over a year, with no signs of acceleration, alleviating inflation concerns.

Conclusion: The ADP data exceeding expectations is a positive signal for the US economy achieving a "soft landing"—indicating stabilization in the labor market without raising excessive inflation concerns, providing room for the Fed to continue rate cuts in December.

VI. Investor Focus

1. Subsequent Data: Pay attention to the official non-farm data potentially released later in November (if the government shutdown ends).

2. December Federal Reserve Meeting: The market generally expects a 25 basis point rate cut, but resilient employment data may impact the magnitude or pace of cuts.

3. Industry Opportunities: Focus on the service sectors with strong employment growth and the consumer resilience brought about by stable wages.

Summary: The October ADP employment data exceeding expectations conveys signals of stabilization in the labor market without overheating, enhancing market confidence in a soft landing for the economy, while maintaining expectations for continued Fed rate cuts, injecting stability into global financial markets.