Before I found my current job (working for the state and in real jepordy now...), I spent over a year and a half out of work. I applied for every job that I conceivably met the requirements for. I applied for night security at hotels, I applied for tech support on the phones, I applied for usually over 10 jobs a day, but nothing. More often than not, on those few times I got an interview, I would get the response, “We’d love to hire you, but you’re just too overqualified for the position.” I started dumbing down my resume, but still no effect for the longest time. There are an awful lot out there who have been sincerely trying, but there are just no jobs to find. As for moving somewhere else to get a job, unfortunately that is a decision you have to make pretty early on in the job hunt. By the time you realize that there really is nothing for you where you are currently living, you are already far too poor to move.
Many don’t buy the idea that it is hard to get a job you are overqualified for- but the issue is the owner is convinced people that are overqualified for a job will keep job hunting even if they hire them, and will soon leave for the better job. Which of course is true.