California Unemployment Reaches New High

The unemployment rate in California for March hit a new high of 12.6%, or 2.3 million who are currently seeking employment.

Tens of thousands have now been out of work for so long that their benefits are going to soon run out. This pool of people will not be helped by an $18 billion measure signed Thursday by President Obama, designed to extend benefits through June 2.

“Jobs have not been quickly multiplying, so there’s a lot of people who are still in need of assistance,” said Employment Development Department spokeswoman Loree Levy.

Historically, unemployment benefits last for 26 weeks in California. In the last two years, federal extensions have added 53 weeks. An additional 20 weeks have been added by a program called FED-ED, bringing the total to 99 weeks of potential benefits.