Even with 20+ years experience, in the NYC metro area, and after speaking with many people from employment agencies, the only viable way I’ve gotten any interviews was via Craig’s list, with the exception of an ad in a paper aimed strictly at my field, which I happened to stumble upon. It’s not something you can buy at a newsstand.
The most recent interview I had, which was for a part time job, the guy said he got “hundreds” of responses, and I have no reason to think he was exaggerating.
Yes, the job market here in northern NJ is horrible - and I don’t see what would change that any time soon. There is little future for young people here; I expect we’ll be getting more “unaccompanied minors” to compensate for the exodus of Americans from the area (on top of the illegals all over the place already).