Emergency Jobs Act of 1983

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the implementation of the Emergency Jobs Appropriations Act of 1983.

GAO obtained information on projects that were awarded emergency appropriation funds in the Lawrence-Haverhill, Massachusetts metropolitan area. GAO found that: (1) as of March 31, 1984, about $2.3 million had been awarded by 12 federal programs for 29 projects in the Lawrence-Haverhill area; (2) about 52 percent of the awarded funds were spent within the first year; and (3) nearly 8.8 percent of the urban area's labor force was unemployed when the act was passed in March 1983. GAO also found that: (1) as a condition of their awards, project managers were required to use local and state unemployment offices to identify the maximum number of unemployed persons hired on their projects; (2) although some project managers considered the provision impracticable because the projects required individuals with specific skills, an estimated 208 people were employed on 22 projects that had begun by March 31, 1984; (3) some funds were used to make improvements to public facilities, property, and waterways; and (4) the metropolitan area also received funds for employment training, humanitarian assistance, and public service activities.