Workspan Daily News Bytes for July 3, 2026

Editor's Note: The June U.S. national jobs report, released on Thursday, July 2, can be found here.

U.S. Private Sector Added 98,000 Jobs in June; Pay Gains Hit 4.4%

U.S. private-sector employment increased by 98,000 jobs in June and pay was up 4.4% year-over-year, according to the ADP National Employment Report, released Wednesday, July 1. The payroll processing firm stated the jobs figure is a bit below the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 110,000.

The report showed job creation was uneven in June. Nearly half the growth came from the education and health services sector, while leisure and hospitality delivered a sixth month of weak hiring.

Among the goods-producing industries:

Manufacturing, +5,000
Construction, +2,000
Natural resources/mining, -5,000

In the service-providing industries:

Education/health services, +48,000
Trade/transportation/utilities, +15,000
Other services, +14,000
Financial activities, +7,000
Professional/business services, +2,000
Information, +7,000
Leisure/hospitality, +2,000

For compensation, year-over-year pay growth for job-stayers was steady at 4.4%. For job-changers, year-over-year pay growth accelerated to 6.6%.

“The pace of hiring is telling a story of both supply and demand,” said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. “We know it’s taking people longer to find work, but there also are signs of labor supply constraints in certain industries. For now, the overall effect is a slowdown in job creation.”

American Jobs Openings Held Steady in May

The number of U.S. job openings remained unchanged at 7.6 million in May, according to the latest BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), released Tuesday, June 30.

Among the survey’s key findings:

Even though the number and rate of job openings were unchanged, the number of job openings increased in wholesale trade (+71,000).
The number and rate of hires were unchanged, at 5.2 million and 3.3%, respectively. Hires increased in federal government (+11,000).
Total separations decreased in the retail trade (-136,000). The number of “other” separations changed little, at 310,000. The number of total separations also changed little, at 5.1 million, while the rate was unchanged, at 3.2%. Total separations changed little in all industries.
The number of quits changed little, at 3.1 million, while the rate was unchanged, at 1.9%. Quits increased in federal government (+4,000).
The number of layoffs and discharges was unchanged, at 1.7 million, while the rate changed little, at 1.1%. Layoffs and discharges decreased in arts, entertainment and recreation.
The number of other separations was unchanged, at 328,000.

AI Is Redesigning How Work Gets Done, with HR Taking the Lead

Global research revealed high-performing, future-ready organizations are redesigning work around artificial intelligence (AI), with HR as the main architect.

Research and consulting firm i4cp surveyed 1,338 global HR leaders and found business expectations of HR are rapidly rising. The survey found:

83% of leaders said AI is reshaping expectations of HR.
Yet, 46% reported no change in HR’s strategic impact.
Only 3% said AI has significantly enhanced HR’s influence.

The report also showed organizations with strong AI, culture and skills readiness are significantly outperforming their peers:

75% of high performers reported AI has enhanced HR’s strategic impact — 4.5 times higher than others.
Those HR entities are 4 times more likely to have operationalized AI.
They are 3 times more likely to increase time spent advising managers.
They are 2 times more likely to use AI to improve decisions.

“AI is raising the bar for what HR is expected to deliver — faster insights, stronger decision support and measurable impact on the business,” said Katheryn Brekken, a senior research analyst at i4cp. “What we see in future-ready organizations is a fundamentally different role for HR. HR is no longer just supporting the business — it is actively shaping strategy, using AI to drive better decisions and helping the organization adapt faster.”

Report Finds Shift in Diversity Metrics in Companies Led by Women

Companies led by women dramatically outpace their male-led peers in appointing women to both corporate boards and senior management, regardless of region, country or company size, according to a new report by Corporate Women Directors International (CWDI).

Of the 3,222 global companies surveyed by the nonprofit research organization, only 215 — just 6.7% — have a woman CEO. Yet the report found:

Under women CEOs, the percentage of women on corporate boards jumps to 38.3%, significantly higher than the global average of 28.9%.
When a woman succeeds a male CEO, board diversity often skyrockets — moving from an average of 34.5% under the predecessor to 56.1% under the woman leader.
The influence extends to senior management, where women-led firms boast 36.8% women executive officers, nearly double the global average of 21%.
Nearly 25% of women-led companies have reached gender-equal or female-majority boards, and 22.3% have senior management teams that are 50% or more women.

“The data is clear: Women CEOs aren’t just symbolic figures; they are engines of structural change,” said CWDI chair Irene Natividad. “They create a pipeline of talent that is often overlooked. Beyond equity, this leadership style is also linked to higher returns and better risk management based on numerous studies globally.”

Figures and Facts of the Week

16,716: The average U.S. dollar amount companies are offering in financial reimbursement for adoption costs — up 6% from 2025, according to a survey by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The survey also reported the average amount of paid leave is 8.9 weeks for adoptive parents, an increase of 1% from 2025.
68: The percentage of U.S. knowledge workers who have pasted internal, sensitive or regulated data (e.g., financial information, customer data, source code, credentials) into AI tools in the last three months, according to a report by cybersecurity company Neon Cyber.
39: The percentage of American workers who feel disconnected in their jobs, even when they are in a full office, according to a new report by global learning and engagement platform Kahoot!
35: The percentage of U.S. LGBTQ+ workers who say their workplace has both strong policies and a visibly supportive culture, according to a new report by The Harris Poll.
21: The average number of full business days U.S. workers clocked working from their mobile phones annually, according to a study by software company Adobe. Top tasks completed on mobile included sending and receiving emails (75%), making phone calls (63%), and instant messaging with colleagues (62%).
20: The percentage of Generation Z men who have taken mental health leave, according to new data from workplace benefits and insurance provider Standard. Millennial men weren’t far behind at 14%, with Generation X at 11% and Baby Boomers at 6%.

Editor’s Note: Additional Content

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