MARTIN COUNTY — Stuart resident Melissa Kinder tries to be professional at job interviews, but there has only been a few since her layoff almost a year ago from a local construction company office.

So in a recent interview, the 41-year-old woman really wanted to jump up and say, “For love of God I really need this job.” Her unemployment has run out. Food in the single woman’s refrigerator is from a friend. A Christmas gift card pays for gasoline.

And she didn’t get the job. “It’s difficult,” she said.

Currently, it is taking most Treasure Coast job seekers from three to seven months to find a job, according to state officials. On average 24.5 people are looking for each job listing.

In December, 26,386 unemployed Treasure Coast residents vied for 1,080 jobs. The unemployment rate was 9.7 percent — 3.8 percent higher in December 2007. January’s rate won’t be released until March.

January’s rate is expected to be even higher following the post-holiday’s retail cutbacks, said Gwenda Thompson, president of the state’s local Workforce Solutions job service for the Treasure Coast.

State economist Rebecca Rust with the Agency for Workforce Innovation said, “The economy is slowing and Florida’s job market is declining.”

To gear up, the state recently gave Thompson’s agency an extra $105,000 to hire temporary workers so regular employees can be freed to help handle an onslaught of job seekers showing up at her offices.

Terrance Moore runs Moore Solutions, a Port St. Lucie company that trains workers in computer use. Almost two months ago he had an opening for a trainer. In the past he had so few applicants and he had to train new hires on the job. This time, the state job service provided him a list of 60 qualified applicants, including people with years of experience in computer work.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Moore said.

Kinder has joined many others in looking for jobs through the state job service, newspaper listings and online at such sites as CareerBuilder.com. The difficulty in finding jobs is extending through all levels, up to a former top marketing executive with a nationwide office supply firm. The Treasure Coast resident didn’t want to be identified because he didn’t want his neighbors to know he isn’t working.

Instead of selling marketing strategies, the veteran former executive is selling himself while listening to his own advice: be positive.

Kinder puts her faith in God opening another door but the other door that is supposed to open stays closed. “I don’t know what the magic words are to put on my resume,” Kinder said.

JOB TIPS

• Don’t just rely on applying online or answering advertisements. Personally network through friends, acquaintances, churches and places you go.

• Rewrite resumes to fit the job. Emphasize aptitudes and experiences that match the job description.

• Be willing to take a step down in jobs.

• Florida Workforce Solutions has job listings and offers job retraining. Many laid off construction workers are learning to be truck drivers, electricians or to work as air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics. For more information call (866) 482-4473.

SOURCE: Florida Workforce Solutions

LOCAL JOB OVERVIEW

• The current unemployment rate is not the worst in the region’s history — St. Lucie County hit 20 percent around 1980 — but the lack of jobs is unusual, said Gwenda Thompson, president of the state’s Workforce Solutions for the Treasure Coast. Last year the region had 26,386 people unemployed at one time or another and 3,235 job openings.

• There may be some relief: “On the horizon is one company expansion that will mean significant jobs for the Treasure Coast” but Thompson said she can’t disclose the name because of confidentiality.

By Elliott Jones, TCPalm.com