Some of the people who lost their jobs when large-scale layoffs hit Silicon Valley a year ago still haven't found new ones. For many of these unemployed workers, it's been a long, frustrating year of fruitless job-hunting, mounting bills and declining self-confidence.

Nationwide, the number of workers out of work for more than six months has increased by more than 70 percent in the past year.

``The longer someone's out, the harder it is,'' said Patti Wilson, principal and founder of The Career Co. ``It's like a snowball gathering momentum and going downhill.''

Most workers find ways to cope with the financial and psychological challenges of being out of work. Some even say the experience opens up new opportunities.

But one of the main stresses of unemployment -- the financial drain -- may be worse for Silicon Valley workers caught in this recession. Workers here face steep housing costs. And the trend toward shorter employment with any given company means workers get less generous severance packages when they're laid off than they might have in past recessions, Wilson said.

``There hasn't been any safety net with this, so it's really taken its toll,'' Wilson said.

Most workers dip into their savings as unemployment drags on. Some lucky ones had done well enough -- through high salaries or stock options -- before the downturn that they don't exhaust their resources.

For many in Silicon Valley, though, work provides a social network and an identity as well as a paycheck.

``It's the first thing we ask after our names: `What do you do for a living?''' said Helena Carlson, a visiting professor of psychology at University of California-Santa Cruz.

The longer someone is unemployed, the harder it can be to get back to work.

``You start truly doubting your skills, plus you get rusty,'' said Barbara Cure, a 38-year-old international program manager from San Jose who was laid off from a financial software company in February 2001. For example, she said, she has no access to the latest versions of the software she uses in her work.

To make herself more marketable, Cure got a certificate in program and project management from San Jose State University, but so far, it hasn't helped.

Duane Kuroda, 33, took a different approach after his employer filed for bankruptcy in February 2001. The Campbell resident has held high-tech jobs in both engineering and marketing, and he wanted an interesting job, not just one that would pay the bills.

So he co-founded a software company. ``The only security is the one you make yourself,'' Kuroda said.

Others have found different opportunities for growth. Tomoko Beebe, an interior designer and project manager from San Francisco, said her Buddhist faith has carried her through 10 months of unemployment.

``I am able to put myself more in other people's shoes, especially people who are suffering,'' Beebe said.

Still, many of the long-term unemployed find themselves in a frustrating state of limbo.

Cure said it's been hard to look for volunteer projects because she hopes she'll be employed soon.

``You don't make any long-range plans,'' Cure said.