The Mississippi Department of Employment Security says it has been swamped with telephone calls from unemployed workers and the agency has added staff and additional phone lines to handle the increased call volume.

The MDES is the state agency charged with administrating unemployment benefits, job placement services and job training for laid-off workers.

The state agency says the slow economy and recently passed federal legislation that provides extended unemployment compensation to qualified people has led to higher call volumes.

Mondays and Tuesdays are usually the highest call volume days, officials say.