WASHINGTON — US employers hired far fewer workers than expected in April, likely, likely frustrated by labor shortages, leaving them scrambling to met booming demand as the economy reopens amid rapidly improving public health and massive financial help from the government.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by only 266 000 jobs last month after rising by 770 000 in March.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls advancing by 978 000 jobs.

The jobs report, the first since the White House's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 pandemic rescue package was approved in March, will probably do little to change expectations that the economy entered the second quarter with strong momentum and was on track for its best performance this year in almost four decades.