Loree Levy is with the California Employment Development
Department. She says the rise in unemployment coincides with the
economic downturn that started with housing-related
industries…
"And now what we're seeing is kind of that transforming into
more of a consumer-related downturn. Where we're seeing job losses
now in retail trade over the last couple of months, especially
right now we'd see a lot of holiday hiring going on and we're just
not seeing it at the level we've seen in the past."
In a statement, Governor Schwarzenegger urged the state
Legislature to pass an economic stimulus package to help keep jobs
in California.
Meanwhile, President Bush Friday signed a bill that will give
the jobless an additional seven weeks of unemployment payments
nationwide. But in California…and in six other states where
unemployment is above six-percent…the extension is even longer.
Some Californians will qualify for up to 33-weeks of
assistance.