According to the Friday reports from the US Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in California for the month of May soared to a record 11.5 percent - marking the highest-ever jobless rate figures, in terms of "modern" records. Since May 2008 - when the unemployment rate was 6.8 percent - California has lost as many as 885,000 jobs.

The Labor Department statistics showed that the May unemployment rate in California was significantly higher than the 9.4 percent national jobless rate for the month, with only four states having higher rates, namely, - Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

While California's jobless rate was marginally down in April to 11.1 percent, as per the revised figures; the loss of additional 69,000 jobs in May was a real blow for the state.

Going by the California Employment Development Department data, the state's government reported the biggest job declines in May, down by 14,200 jobs, with losses witnessed in all sectors except education and health services.

Commenting on the jobless rate figures, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that such figures were "natural" due to the colossal global economic downturn. The Governor added: "A full recovery will not happen overnight - it will take time. There is no greater priority right now than to stimulate the economy, create jobs and get California back on the road to prosperity."