A hiring sign at a store in Norfolk, Va., on Oct. 5, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch TimesU.S. private payroll growth cooled at the start of 2026, rising at a slower‑than‑expected pace, according to ADP data released on Feb. 4.The private sector added 22,000 jobs in January, down from a downwardly revised 37,000 in December 2025, the payroll processor stated in its National Employment Report.