The unemployment rate has surpassed 10% for the first time since 1983 and is likely to go higher. The Labor Department says the economy shed another 190,000 jobs in October.
Although a couple of local companies have started to rehire some of their laid off workers in recent weeks, Virginia employment officials are still dealing with a lot of the same people.
"Most of it is dealing with unemployment insurance. There have been multiple extensions as far as unemployment insurance. So we're seeing the same customers still coming in," said Gerald Smith with the Virginia Employment Commission.
Some of the worst unemployment numbers in southwest Virginia are in Bristol and Smyth County -- both more than 10% .
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