WPA by the Number

WPA by the Numbers The US needs new infrastructure -roads, bridges, power grid, etc. – as well as job growth. Perhaps an injection to stimulate the sluggish economy should come in the form of a "new" New Deal. Here is a look at the numbers behind the 8 year Works Progress Administration (WPA) created in 1935. Oct. 29, 1929 - Black Tuesday Stock Market Crash FDR Administration World War II (draft) 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 24.9 Works Progress Administration (WPA) 23.6 21.7 20.1 19.0 16.9 17.2 15.9 14.3 14.6 9.9 8.9 $$ 4.7 3.3 $11 Billion 1.9 1.9 US unemployment (%) 1.2 I 8.5 Million Jobs The WPA operated between 1935 - 1943 with a budget of $11 Billion. In today's terms that figure would be about $165 78,000 Bridges Billion. A massive amount of infrastruc- 116,000 Buildings ture projects were constructed, much of which is still in use today – but in need of upgrade and repair. 651,000 Miles of Roads 800 Improved Airports Graphics: Steve Kizer Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. WPA by the Numbers The US needs new infrastructure -roads, bridges, power grid, etc. – as well as job growth. Perhaps an injection to stimulate the sluggish economy should come in the form of a "new" New Deal. Here is a look at the numbers behind the 8 year Works Progress Administration (WPA) created in 1935. Oct. 29, 1929 - Black Tuesday Stock Market Crash FDR Administration World War II (draft) 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 24.9 Works Progress Administration (WPA) 23.6 21.7 20.1 19.0 16.9 17.2 15.9 14.3 14.6 9.9 8.9 $$ 4.7 3.3 $11 Billion 1.9 1.9 US unemployment (%) 1.2 I 8.5 Million Jobs The WPA operated between 1935 - 1943 with a budget of $11 Billion. In today's terms that figure would be about $165 78,000 Bridges Billion. A massive amount of infrastruc- 116,000 Buildings ture projects were constructed, much of which is still in use today – but in need of upgrade and repair. 651,000 Miles of Roads 800 Improved Airports Graphics: Steve Kizer Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed.