By Candice Ludlow
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-910694.mp3
Memphis, TN – As I walk through the glass doors of the Central Library on Poplar, I see a long line of people with resumes and flyers in hand snaking their way through the lobby and into the main library. Robyn Stone, a senior librarian, tells me that 1,500 people came - which is unusual. Just two years ago, only 500 people turned out.
Sarah Ritchie is a social worker, but she can't find work in her field. She says she's either over qualified or under qualified.
"I was working at Wal-mart in Georgia because I couldn't get work here in Tennessee." A week before Christmas, she was laid off. Ritchie says, "I haven't been able to get a fast food or retail position since I've been back."
Ritchie is just one of the hundreds of people who were trying to find work. Still, there aren't as many jobs. Tennessee's unemployment rate continues to hover above 10 percent.
The House of Representatives passed the extension for unemployment benefits Thursday after the Senate blocked the bill. Next week, the Senate is not in session. So there will be no extension of unemployment benefits for at least a week. Meanwhile, 1.2 million Americans will lose their benefits.