HONOLULU -- The legislature needs more than 300 employees to work during the legislative session next year. The House and Senate hire extra employees for the session every year, but this year is different because of the bad economy.

State House Chief Clerk Patricia Mau Shimizu said applicants for the session are different this year.

It's not recent college graduates or the usual retirees trying to earn extra money for Las Vegas trips or for the grandchildren.

"Now we are seeing age 35 to 45, the middle group," Shimizu said. "And I think it is a sign of the poor economy and layoffs because we do offer health benefits."

Shimizu said the applicants are coming primarily from real estate backgrounds and financial professions.

"We get a lot of people ... their last job, I assume their salary was over $50,000 and now they are coming in to for whatever they can get for the five month session," Shimizu said.

She said they are pleased with the new high caliber of applicants because it will be a difficult session with the state's huge deficit.

Salaries range for the session jobs range from about $4,400 a month for a legislative attorney to $1,500 to $2,000 a month for print shop clerks.

Although the legislative jobs are temporary, they offer a good chance to learn how government works from the inside and also opportunities for future employment from people employees might meet during the session.