Alabama's unemployment rate is now into double digits.

October’s state average was 10.9, but one Wiregrass area is seeing much worse numbers.

Barbour County has a nearly 15 percent unemployment rate.

Residents there are struggling to find work.

The number of people looking for jobs in Barbour County continues to grow.

Eufaula Career Center Manager Ann Blondheim said, "We are seeing a large number of unemployed workers. People have lost jobs they've had for years and years from layoffs and plant closings."

James Davis was recently laid off; he's now trying to find any job just to make ends meet. "I've just been trying to draw my unemployment and it's real hard around here because there are no jobs," he said.

Four plants in the Barbour County area have shut down and two have experienced major layoffs.

Linda Wells was employed at a local textile company that shut down.

She is now trying to learn new skills to help her find a job. "Retraining when you haven't been in school since 71 is real hard, but I found I wasn't the only person of that age trying to get retrained."

Career experts say there's one thing to keep in mind when looking for a job during these hard economic times.

"They need to be open to change,” Blondheim said. “If they worked in textile they have to understand those jobs are probably permanently gone and they need to look for retraining."

Other advice for those out of a job is to remember that finding a job is a fulltime job in itself.

Don’t get discouraged if the first few applications don't get you a job

Blonheim also pointed out that there are jobs in the healthcare field; so if you're looking to retrain, you may like to look in that area.

For help with job placement in the Barbour County area, you may contact the Eufaula Career Center at 687-8251.