Maureen Leong, recently unemployed, is scanning the job bank, surfing the web and flipping through the newspapers.

She's also meeting with her career counselor in the hopes of landing a job, though it's not an easy task these days.

Leong has never been unemployed but the economy crashed down hard on her.

"I don't think I can retire probably 'til the day I die because of what happened," she told CTV's Rob Lurie.

After 30 years working as an operations manager, she was just starting to think about the golden years.

But in November, she received the bad news ...she was laid-off.

To make matter worse, she had lost half of her investment fund.

After two months of pounding the pavement Maureen has had some nibbles but so far no bites.

All too common

Maureen is among many people who are feeling the effects of the downturn in the economy.

Job-placement agencies have been seeing increasing numbers of Quebecers since November.

Employment conselor Gail Knafo says potential employers wait longer than before to make their choice.

"They're going to look for the most qualified candidates, the most skilled, the most experienced and they're gonna pay less for it," she says.

Widespread pain

Nearly everyone's hurting -- not just the people who lost their jobs.

Anyone with savings took a major hit on the stock market.

As is the case with all investment advisers, Neil Himal hears from upset clients wondering why they lost so much.

"(If) my own investments go down I can live with that," said Himal, who works at Paramount Financial Services.

"(But) people entrust you with their money, their retirement, their child's education -- it's very, very difficult."

Himal advises his clients not to cash out at what he sees as the bottom of the market and in fact he tries to convince them that now is the time to invest more.

He says investment options have fallen 25% to 35% in price during the downturn.

Not all bad?

As bad as it seems, economists still believe Quebec's past struggles make it a relatively good place to weather the economic storm.

The manufacturing sector has already been gutted, the auto industry is virtually nonexistent and head offices left town years ago.

However, Quebec does have its share of problems:

  • In 2007, 25,159 Quebecers declared personal bankruptcy
  • Last year that number rose by almost 10% to more than 27,600
  • And in 2007, 1,694 Quebecers had their homes seized
  • In 2008 that number rose a staggering 39% to more than 2,300 and it's expected to rise again this year.

One store booming

Amid all of the economic carnage, at least one store is booming.

The thrift shop Village des Valeurs has seen sales rise about 20% compared with this time last year.