U.S. added 90,000 jobs last month, says ADP—including in manufacturing and construction, where trade bosses say six-figure jobs are sitting empty

According to the latest ADP report, the U.S. added 90,000 private sector jobs in September, marking a recovery from a recent slowdown. The majority of these roles (55,000) were created in education and healthcare, while leisure and hospitality added 22,000 positions. Manufacturing and construction sectors, key drivers of America's AI infrastructure growth, added 17,000 and 15,000 jobs, respectively.

Leaders in these industries warn of a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in blue-collar roles with six-figure salaries. Ed Brady, president of the Home Builders Institute, says young people need to be more aware of these opportunities and stressed that these high-paying jobs are available to recent high school graduates earning $30 an hour.

The sector's demand for skilled labor has led to wage growth outpacing other industries, sparking concerns among policymakers. Austan Goolsbee, president of the Chicago Federal Reserve, is closely monitoring construction roles for potential economic overheating. ADP's chief economist, Dr. Nela Richardson, notes that while wage inflation is not alarming at the macro level, the demand for skilled labor, particularly in blue-collar jobs, remains high.

She points to the challenges of finding workers willing to take second and third shifts, which are common in manufacturing and other skilled trades.