The economy and the job market are very closely linked and in a weaker economy, there will usually be fewer jobs and opportunities to move to a new company. Despite this, there can still be some very good opportunities around and there will often be companies hiring throughout difficult times. While new jobs may not be as abundant, there are definitely still opportunities out there.
If the economy has taken a dip and there are fewer jobs readily available, it is essential to stand out from the crowd. This means having a polished CV that shows your key skills and areas of expertise, as well as supporting documents such as a portfolio where relevant. You can also include a cover letter as a part of your job application which gives you a chance to explain who you are, what you do and why you want the job. A strong cover letter can make you more memorable to recruiters.