My boyfriend has become discouraged about job hunting, what should I do?

My boyfriend of seven years is becoming quite emotional to the point where it is ridiculous. The two of us have been looking for work for two years now and it has been quite a bumpy ride. In high school he was lucky enough to get into the Y.O.P. program that was funded by our city in which they put you on a job site for 6 weeks and you get paid for it other than just gaining work experience. Thus far he has held three jobs but his most recent one is dissatisfying. Were living together now in my dad's deceased house where my brother joey pays most of the bills but we want to be able to take care of ourselves rather than hearing him complain about how he has to take care of us. My boyfriend has worked as customer service representative at dollar tree, as a maintence worker for the public works, and now as a part time sign dancer. But a new sign dancer has come along for the place he's working at and the guy gets more hours then my boyfriend. My boyfriend has been working at this place for a year and yet the new guy gets a promotion instead of my bf who has seniority. We've tried every where but it seems like the only way you can get a full time job is if you know someone who works there. His cousin works at target but not even she will help him get in. Right now our friend dallas has a job at target in a city 2 hrs away and says he'd be willing to help him get in but my bf just says he gives up and doesn't care anymore. I on the other hand have a friend who works at taco bell who says he'd be willing to help me get in.... but i'm thinking of handing that over to my bf so he'll be happy, despite the fact that i'm tired of staying at home all day and only getting food stamps as a way to contribute. So what should I do? I want us to succeed in this life...