According to the Wareham Career Center, job-seekers face two problems when it comes to getting hired: they are either overqualified or they don't have the correct skills for today's job market.

"We don't have the people coming through here who don't have the education they need" as is typical when layoffs are concentrated in one industry, said Career Center Manager Tim Nelson. "This downturn hit all levels of employment. We've been seeing a totally different layer of the economy than normal. The training [that people possess] doesn't match the jobs."

The Career Center has seen increased numbers of visitors, recording a high of 1,100 visitors since their fiscal year began in July, and they anticipate seeing between 12,000 and 15,000 people between the New Bedford and Wareham centers this year. According to Nelson, Wareham currently has a 10.5 percent unemployment rate. Nelson said that the majority of the people that are looking for work have high-school degrees and many have associates degrees. They have had 113 job seekers with bachelor's degrees, which is greatly increased than in previous downturns. There are also more job-seekers who are over 55-years-old.

Some job seekers need more technical, particularly computer, skills. Email is a near requirement for a resume and for setting up job interviews, and for those who have economized by disconnecting their internet, they lose access to a major source of job postings.

To address this need, the Center's resource room contains seven computers, including one that is fully handicapped accessible, in addition to phones, a copier and printers. Patrons can use the computers to search for job listings - according to Job Quest, the State site for job-seekers, 20,000 jobs were open in Massachusetts, 10,000 of which were posted in the last 30 days on Thursday, Feb. 25 - and print out resumes.

The Center also offers a computer classroom with eight computers where patrons can access online GED and work-certificate programs.

Jeff Warnica and Susan Guess of Onset were interested in taking advantage of computer classes offered by the Career Center, which include basic computer skills and basic Microsoft Word. Jeff's construction work had slackened over the past two years, and he is mainly working smaller, short-term projects. He is looking to supplement the income from his periodic construction work with a physical-labor job he can work at night.

"It's been horrible," he said. "But I've got to leave the days open in case construction work comes along."

He is able to look for jobs online, but said that computers are not his main source of information. "I use books, I have no computer skills."

Guess was recently laid off from her job as a residential counselor at a home for handicapped adults. She still works part-time as an aide to a boy with cerebral palsy, and she is scheduled to finish her classes for certification in massage therapy at Cape Cod Community College in May. But neither her part-time job nor working as a massage therapist will provide health insurance. And because her former employer training does not qualify her as a residential counselor for other companies, she is looking into further certifications and job training opportunities because, while she will have the experience and some of the credentials, the market is still very tight.

"People that graduated last semester [from massage-therapy school] are having trouble finding work," she said. "I'm interested in looking into more job-training."

Paula Mannillo, 66, of Wareham has plenty of experience and credentials. She and her husband have run numerous businesses including a clothing manufacturer, a resort in Northern Minnesota, a computer-service business brokerage, and a venture capital fund. She also has a Master degree in Educational Psychology, and she served as an unemployment counselor since 1984. She participates in the Career Center's networking group each week.

"Unemployment can be depressing if you don't have a schedule each day," Mannillo said. "Everybody says 'you need to network, network, network, and I hate it...but it's easier if we're all in the same boat."

The group, which Mannillo said included workers in warehousing and shipping, a computer expert in product design, a biochemical engineer, and workers in the financial field, has set up an email group to share advice and job opportunities.

"A lot of people have been out of work for a long time," Mannillo said. "And it's not people who don't want to work or have been sloughing off."

Nelson said that many of these job-seekers are simply overqualified.

"Most of the jobs coming available are entry-level," he said. Most job-seekers are mid-level or senior level."

The Center has had success placing patrons in many jobs with the census, and the Center has used funds from the Workforce Investment Act to pay for patrons to undergo training in medical billing, and become certified as nurse's assistants.

Nelson said that he has heard people say that the economy is turning around, but he was more cautious about the Wareham-area job market.

"It's improved, but not turned the corner yet," he said.

Seasonal businesses will begin hiring soon, however, and hopefully that boost in hiring will spur further economic growth and confidence. Meanwhile, he recommends that job-seekers should work on their resume and their interviewing skills.

"If you got in the door with the resume, you're at least qualified for the job," he said. "Now you need to be a salesman for yourself. Being prepared for the interview is half the battle."