HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA.com) — While Labor Day was established as a day of celebration for the American worker, the unemployed in Huntington Beach weren’t exactly reveling in the holiday on Monday.

“I’d be working right now if I could,” said an uemployed man, who verified it’s a day off he doesn’t want.

“My daughter’s out of work, my husband’s laid off, so I know the feeling of not being able to work,” a woman told KCAL9′s Dave Lopez.

For the fourth consecutive Labor Day, national unemployment remains above 8 percent.

“This is a very deep recession, close to being a depression, and it’s taking us a long time to get out of it,” said a Huntington Beach visitor.

Also, for the first time in 50 years, nearly one in five Americans, 65 years or older, is either still working or actively looking for a job.

A 70-year-old man said he’s still on the job.

“Savings are pretty much gone to the recession, so you have to keep working,” he said.

For those lucky enough to have a job, nothing was going to spoil Labor Day.

“I get to go to work tomorrow,” said a woman.