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The '''Works Progress Administration''' (later '''Work Projects Administration''', abbreviated '''WPA'''), was created on May 6, 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not create a permanent agency.). It was the largest and most comprehensive [[New Deal]] agency, employing millions of people and affecting every locality. The WPA refused to allow any job training (which labor unions strongly opposed)<ref>There was some job training in the NYA, especially for occupations like domestic servants that were not unionized.</ref>, with the result that WPA experience did not lead to better job opportunities.  It did reduce unemployment by finding jobs for the least employable and most needy men and women--both black and white--in the country.

The '''Works Progress Administration''' (later '''Work Projects Administration''', abbreviated '''WPA'''), was created on May 6, 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not create a permanent agency.). It was the largest and most comprehensive [[New Deal]] agency, employing millions of people and affecting every locality. The WPA refused to allow any job training (which labor unions strongly opposed)<ref>There was some job training in the NYA, especially for occupations like domestic servants that were not unionized.</ref>, with the result that WPA experience did not lead to better job opportunities.  It did reduce unemployment by finding jobs for the least employable and most needy men and women--both black and white--in the country.

WPA continued and extended the [[FERA]] relief programs started by [[Herbert Hoover]] and continued under [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].  Unliker FERA (which funded state and local programs), the WPA was run directly by the federal government.  

WPA continued and extended the [[FERA]] relief programs started by [[Herbert Hoover]] and continued under [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].  Unlike FERA (which funded state and local programs), the WPA was run directly by the federal government.  

Headed by [[Harry Hopkins]], the WPA provided jobs and income to millions of unemployed during the [[Great Depression]]. It built many public buildings and roads, and as well operated a large arts project. Until it was closed down by Congress in 1943, it was the largest employer in the country &mdash; indeed, the largest employer in most states. Only unemployed people on relief were eligible for most of its jobs. The hourly wages were the prevailing wages in the area, but workers could not work more than 30 hours a week. Before 1940, there was no training involved to teach people new skills. Unskilled workers were very happy to have a real job and a real paycheck rather than waiting in line for food baskets.  However skilled workers who found themselves on the WPA were embarrassed by the downskilled jobs and tried to hide their status.  Thus actors did not want their names to appear on programs for WPA theater productions, fearing they would be stigmatized as poor actors. [[Image:Wpa4.jpg|thumb|300px|poster from WPA arts project]]

Headed by [[Harry Hopkins]], the WPA provided jobs and income to millions of unemployed during the [[Great Depression]]. It built many public buildings and roads, and as well operated a large arts project. Until it was closed down by Congress in 1943, it was the largest employer in the country &mdash; indeed, the largest employer in most states. Only unemployed people on relief were eligible for most of its jobs. The hourly wages were the prevailing wages in the area, but workers could not work more than 30 hours a week. Before 1940, there was no training involved to teach people new skills. Unskilled workers were very happy to have a real job and a real paycheck rather than waiting in line for food baskets.  However skilled workers who found themselves on the WPA were embarrassed by the downskilled jobs and tried to hide their status.  Thus actors did not want their names to appear on programs for WPA theater productions, fearing they would be stigmatized as poor actors. [[Image:Wpa4.jpg|thumb|300px|poster from WPA arts project]]