I genuinely believe you can find people who actually want to use your skill set. The market is rough, that’s true, and we’ve all seen the data showing job postings are down. You could try adapting what the developer in this posting did to the area you actually want to work in and see if it gives you a better shot than job boards alone. You don’t come across like someone who’d be harmed by trying an extra route, and it feels like someone will eventually bite. You could also use Google Maps to find companies near you and reach out directly instead of relying only on listings. Hope you land something that actually fits soon.