The Works Progress Administration (WPA), opens allowing thousands of unemployed Americans decent-paying jobs on a wide range of public works projects including parks, playgrounds, major infrastructure projects, schools and post-offices. During it's existence the WPA was responsible for employing 8.5 million Americans during its eight-years, Although most politicians here and around the world use the quote that this is the worst recession since the great depression of the thirties by comparison the current thinking is unemployment is below 10% or 1 in 10 but in the worst period of the great depression that number was nearer to 25% or or 1 in 4.

The Monju nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Japan was reactivated after over fourteen years of inactivity. The reactor was originally shut down in 1995 after a fire broke out, and the plant was expected to reach full output in 2013. The move to reactivate the reactor drew harsh criticism from nuclear power opponents and locals due to the previous scandals and incidents that had surrounded the reactor in the past.