Whether going through a period of unemployment or transitioning careers, workers can remain productive by enhancing their skills.

Many workers in the United States are facing unemployment or considering career changes to improve their professional prospects. However, being between jobs does not necessarily lead to falling behind professionally, as these in-between periods can be used to preserve or enhance one’s work skills, obtain relevant experience and boost marketable traits that appeal to hiring managers. With more impressive qualifications, the job hunt is likelier to be successful.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor this month, of the 14.9 million unemployed Americans, 42 percent have been without a job for more than half a year. Moreover, a recent study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that employment will return to its pre-recession level in early 2013, at best, and the number of long-term unemployed workers is likely to remain disproportionately high in the future.

The longer workers remain unemployed, the higher the risk of losing the professional skills or competencies that they can contribute to the economy.

“During the downturn, the skills of the unemployed may have become degraded or may no longer match the skills demanded by employers,” the OECD report explains. “Job training during long periods of unemployment may mitigate these problems, particularly for younger and less-educated job seekers.”

It’s important to avoid being discouraged if you haven’t found the right job within a given period of time. The temptation may be to withdraw from the world, but you should do just the opposite: go out and engage with the industry you want to be in.

“In an ultra-competitive market, not only will you need to have superior skills to land a job, but you will also need to demonstrate to employers that you’re keeping up…” the Wall Street Journal‘s FINS career resource advises. “And while balancing your time between the job search and learning new skills can be tough, employers need to see that you’ve been retooling and keeping up with your specific industry.”

Given their free time, the unemployed are more focused on training than their counterparts. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a New York Times chart on how Americans apportion their time shows that the unemployed spend about an hour and 19 minutes more each day on education and development than employed workers do. Roughly two-thirds of this time is spent in classes and one-third on assignments.

In addition to taking classes, the Journal suggests that those between jobs take the following steps to maintain and improve their skills:

• Keep industry connections. Try to maintain memberships with trade associations or unions that can offer you publications and personal contacts to keep you up to date on industry developments.
• Attend conferences. Check association websites and social media groups to find professional conferences to attend. These can be good places to network and learn more about job opportunities or industry changes.
• Join interest groups. Find local organizations, such as the chamber of commerce, that can provide skills classes or training programs and meet with other industry professionals.
• Take classes. While online classes may be easier, try to attend in-person courses, as face-to-face networking can open doors for you and lead to job opportunities.
• Learn entry-level knowledge. When switching to a new field, it’s crucial to learn the new industry lingo and get a foundation of experience through entry-level classes and work.
• Gain advanced skills. If you’re looking for work in your current field, getting additional certification or coursework from a local college can boost your résumé and vastly improve your marketability to hiring managers. Some schools also offer free or discounted rates to the unemployed.
• Take advantage of state programs. Some states offer free business or professional development classes at universities or community colleges. These can be an inexpensive way to improve skills.
• Write about your industry. Starting a blog or writing articles about your industry are great ways to get your name out there, show off your expertise and build valuable connections in your field.

Another alternative is to volunteer for an organization while you’re between jobs. In addition to helping people, this can shore up gaps in your résumé and reflect positively on your outlook and commitment when interviewing with potential employers.

“It’s easy to think of volunteering as a way to fill the hours in a day or to give back to a cause you care about, especially if you can no longer write a donation check,” Margot Pritzker, founder and president of professional development website WomenOnCall.org, writes at the Huffington Post. “But for the highly-skilled professionals finding themselves laid off and in search of work, volunteering your professional skills is a great way to add substance to your résumé, as well as network.”

Earlier

When Will Unemployment Join the Recovery?

Tips for Making a Career Transition

The Job Hunt, Pt. I: Preparation

The Job Hunt, Pt. II: Action

Resources

Employment Situation Summary
U.S. Department of Labor, Sept. 3, 2010

OECD Economic Surveys: United States
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, September 2010

Building Capital: Increasing Your Value While Unemployed
by Alina Dizik
FINS (The Wall Street Journal), Jan. 14, 2010

How Different Groups Spend Their Day
by Shan Carter, Amanda Cox, Kevin Quealy and Amy Schoenfeld
The New York Times, July 31, 2010

How to Update Your Job Skills While Unemployed
by Dawn Fallik
The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 18, 2009

Volunteering While Unemployed: Fill the Résumé Gap
by Margot Pritzker
The Huffington Post, May 8, 2009