Baltimore Jobs : Buzz

While the local and national economies continue their halting recovery, area vendors report that food service is one sector that's not struggling in the Greater Baltimore Area.

Here's an excerpt:

"Through good economic times or bad, the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., corridor remains a stronghold for the foodservice business, produce vendors in the area say.

It's just a matter of finding the right niche, they add.

Jessup, Md.-based Lancaster Foods Inc. has grabbed ahold of fresh-cut business as its ticket into the foodservice sector.

A move to a new building two years ago prompted the strategic shift, said Jerry Chadwick, vice president of marketing and business development for the company, which built its business on the retail side."

Read the entire article here.

For the second year, ForbesWoman has released its list of the 50 best cities for working moms. Baltimore rounded out the Top Five cities, behind Minneapolis-St. Paul, Washington, D.C., Boston, Mass., and Pittsburgh, Pa.

Here's an excerpt:

"To calculate our list we began with the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the U.S. while working under the notion that "best" means different things to different women. Safety, of course, is important, and great schools and healthcare also all play a part--but when it comes to quality of life for high-achieving women, there are other components to consider."

Read the entire article here.

The economic downturn has hit many industries hard, forcing employers to lay-off employees. The healthcare sector hasn't been immune, but seems to be coming back with Johns Hopkins Hospital hiring some 400 workers and Bravo Healthcare hiring 40.

Here's an excerpt:

"Johns Hopkins Hospital has 400 job openings.

Second Chance, a Baltimore-based non-profit, is making a name for itself by salvaging what might normally be thrown away and repurposing it.

Here's an excerpt:

"Where does stuff salvaged from old homes go? To answer that question, I drove an hour north to Baltimore Saturday to check out four warehouses run by Second Chance, a non-profit training group.

The warehouses, open to the public as retail outlets, are brimming with sofas, antiques, fireplace mantels, stained glass windows, chandeliers, old church pews, appliances, cabinetry, bathtubs, doors and lumber taken from dozens of houses and sold at low prices."

Read the entire article here.

As cities around the U.S. fight to pull themselves out of ditch dug by the global economic downturn, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and other cities that were built up by a bevy of industrial industries may fare better than those with economies rely heavily on more vulnerable sectors like the housing market.

Here's an excerpt:

"At a recent London School of Economics symposium on U.S. and European cities, Katz said American bubble cities are characterized by "real estate economies built on consumption and excess."

More mature industrial centers, he said, tend to have strong universities and a history of research, innovation and making things. If America is going to "rediscover our innovation mojo," as Katz put it, traditional industrial metros are best equipped to lead the way..."

Read the entire article here.

Maryland companies led the nation adding more employees to their roster, increasing evidence that the Great Recession is receding.


Here's an excerpt:

"Payrolls increased in 33 states in March, led by gains in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania that signal weather, in addition to an improving economy, has influenced employment in recent months.

Employers in Maryland boosted staff by 35,800 workers last month, those in Virginia added 24,500 and head counts in Pennsylvania climbed by 22,600, the Labor Department reported today in Washington. The states were among the most affected by February blizzards that pushed seasonal snowfall to records.

The number of states showing payroll gains increased from 27 the prior month and was the most since February 2008, a sign that the improvement in the labor market is broadening. Nationally, a report earlier this month showed employment increased by 162,000 last month, the third gain in the past five months and the biggest in three years."

Read the entire article here.

What would you do if you went from pulling in a six-figure income as a real estate agent to working part-time at Wal-mart and collecting foodstamps? Karen DeSha's story isn't unusual in this economy, however the way she's chosen to handle the drastically changed circumstances could be.

Here's an excerpt:

"The two-year nightmare finally seemed like it was about to end. After leaving the troubled real estate industry, pursuing a dream job that didn't pan out, burning through her savings, maxing out her credit cards, and downsizing into a leaky two-bedroom shack, Karen DeSha finally found a good company interested in hiring her as a sales rep. Her first battery of interviews with a Maryland flooring firm went so well that they called the next day and asked her to meet the CEO. Things seemed to click at that meeting too, as DeSha explained her work history and her selling techniques. The CEO had one final question: Where had she attended college? She told the truth: She hadn't. That ended the discussion. The job never materialized."

Read the entire article here.

According the latest Metro Monitor report from the Brookings Institute, only 28 of the nations 100 metropolitan areas have managed to regain their pre-recession goods and services output levels in the last quarter.

Here's an excerpt:

"The unemployment rate in America hasn't budged of late, but the flat jobless rate may not tell the whole story. More than a few smaller, dynamic cities have already exceeded economic output levels seen before the recession."

Read the entire post here.

Whether you've had to cutback on Internet access or don't have a computer at home, libraries could be the answer. The Examiner.com's Baltimore Computers blogger has a few tips.

Here's an excerpt:

"Local Baltimore libraries can be a great technology resource for those without computers or an Internet connection. While many people may have computers, many more people may not have access to computers or even an Internet connection. With the economic downturn, many people may have had to cut back on expenses, including Internet access. Without computers or an Internet connection, many people are at a disadvantage for seeking employment, doing school work, or even communicating with others. Luckily the Baltimore region has some of the best libraries that offer free computer and Internet access."

Read the entire article here.

Three of Maryland's top employers made the grade, ranking as one of Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2010" list.

Spice maker McCormick & Co. led the Maryland contingent at No. 72.  Bethesda-based Marriott International came in at No. 82, with Baltimore's LifeBridge Health health system squeaked in at No. 96.

Here's an excerpt:

"72. McCormick and Company...Rank: 72 (Previous rank: N.A.)