In September, employers in the U.S. added just 194,000 jobs, marking a second straight month of less-than-stellar gains.
The report released by the Department of Labor on Friday provided more evidence that COVID-19 and the more contagious delta variant continue to hold a grip over the U.S. economy.
Friday's report noted that the unemployment rate fell 0.4% in September to 4.8%.
According to The New York Times, Friday's report showed that the leisure and hospitality sector added fewer than 100,000 jobs for the second straight month. That industry had been a significant driver of economic growth in the summer months, prior to the rise of the delta variant.
In August, the U.S. added a disappointing 235,000 jobs. That broke a two-month streak of higher-than-expected job growth.
The White House hopes that an increase in vaccinations prompted by employer mandates will slow the spread of COVID-19 in the coming months. President Joe Biden called for an increase in vaccine mandates in September in laying out a six-pronged effort to fight the virus in the fall months.
In delivering remarks on the report Friday, Biden touted the fact that the unemployment rate had dipped below 5% for the first time in over a year. He said the fact that the unemployment rate continues to fall show his plan is working.
"We're actually making good process," Biden said, noting that results have not been coming as "fast" or "dramatic" as he would have liked.
