That has economists looking at all kinds of data, prepping in great detail for the 8:30 a.m. Eastern time whistle on Thursday. The report is usually on the first Friday of the month, but it will arrive a day earlier owing to the July 4 holiday.

Economists had forecast an increase of 100,000 but declines in business services and education and health care offset increases in leisure and hospitality.

July 2 (UPI) -- Private payrolls declined in June, far off analysts' expectations that they would grow, according to data released by private payroll processor ADP on Wednesday. U.S. private employers lost 33,000 jobs in June, the first time private jobs declined since March 2023, the monthly report said .