THE VILLAGES — While at their neighborhood recreation center, Village of Duval residents Paul and Dawne Lampson gazed across the street last week and expressed an amazement shared by neighbors Jerry and Sue Wilson and Jim and Gayle Opatrny.

Just a year or so ago, an expanse of undeveloped land existed across the street from the Odell Circle pool, bocce court and postal station.

Unemployment continues to rise in Lake and Sumter counties. Out-of-work residents flock to libraries and job fairs to apply for job openings. Employers are inundated with hundreds of job applications. With less disposable income, consumer confidence is dwindling. Here's a quick look at the state of unemployment, by the numbers.

13,055* -- The number of people in Lake County who were on unemployment benefits in January. Lake's unemployment rate rose by more than one percentage point to 9.7 percent in January. It's the highest jobless rate in Lake in more than 16 years.