It may be the first sign that the economic future under President Donald Trump is not necessarily so bright in the U.S.
Figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed non-farm payrolls grew by just 98,000 in March, though the unemployment rate fell to 4.5%.
Economists polled by Reuters suggested payrolls would increase by 180,000 in March
Wage growth was not as strong either, with average hourly earnings up by 2.7% on an annualized basis.
The stunning drop came amid what had been a strong year for jobs, with both January and February easily topping Wall Street's expectations, though both months were revised lower in Friday's release. January's growth was reduced from 238,000 to 216,000, while February fell from 235,000 to 219,000, equating to a total decline of 38,000.
A report earlier in the week from ADP showed that private payrolls expanded by 263,000, further spiking hopes that the momentum would continue.
However, the report in total was a blow to expectations that President Donald Trump's pro-growth agenda would fuel an economic boom this year.
