The news that job growth ceased last month was immediately seized upon by congressional leaders who used the numbers to justify competing positions on the economic stimulus package.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat who chairs the Joint Economic Committee, pushed for the addition of unemployment insurance to the package approved earlier this week by the House, which gives tax rebates to about 116 million Americans.

"Every economist will tell you that stimulus spending will get into the economy much quicker than a tax rebate, which we're all for," Mr. Schumer said.

Mr. Schumer also offered this grim assessment: "Any doubts that we are heading into a recession should be erased with today’s employment report."

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Ohio Democrat, said that the jobs report "highlights why Senate Democrats should approve the House-passed economic growth package without any further delay."

Mr. Boehner also said the numbers are "a fresh reminder that in order to spur future jobs gains, this Congress needs to work together to cut taxes, reduce wasteful spending, and end heavy-handed, jobs-killing regulations and mandates on employers."

— Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times