The jobs lost during the recession
But even though the statistics say our state has retained all the jobs lost during the recession, on the Central Coast it's a different story.
"We are not wasting time - we are out there looking for a gig," said Walter Ryce III, a Vietnam veteran looking for work.
By the looks of the second annual "Biggest Little Job Fair" in Salinas, there is no shortage of available jobs or people looking for them.
"I decided to be more proactive, to be very aggressive about it and put my face out there," Ryce said. "For me it took a desire not to stay down any more, not to be homeless."
Now, he's living on social security and a military pension, but like 70 percent of Vietnam era vets, he's unemployed.
Employment Services Director Will Moore who works for Goodwill, the organization hosting the job fair, said the unemployment rate in Monterey county is 6.9, but the stress needs to be in Salinas where the unemployment rate is 9.9.
"We still have those that are under employed or those who really have a lower economic status who are still struggling," Moore said.