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The Portland metro area has two Fortune 500 companies
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Nike and
Precision Castparts.
The majority of Portland businesses are small to midsized, meaning they
employ less than 500 people. Portland doesn't have Seattle's business
might − no Boeing and the high-tech wealth
of Microsoft and other software companies. It used to have a large wood
products business, but that industry while still important to the state's
economy, has diminished.
Manufacturing is especially important in Oregon, where
as recently as 2007, high-tech manufacturing accounted for about 10
percent of economic output − eight times
the share nationally. Yet since 2007, Oregon has lost about 40,000 of
its 200,000 manufacturing jobs. National contract manufacturers have
left the state in droves, heading overseas or to lower-cost domestic
locales. RadiSys Corp. has moved the last of its Hillsboro manufacturing
to Asia. Suntron Corporation closed its Newberg plant, laying off 190
workers. Solectron Corp. closed its Hillsboro plant and laid off 160,
moving work to California and Mexico. Benchmark Electronics Inc. closed
in Beaverton, laying off 180 and moving work to plants in Minnesota
and Texas.
Intel still employs about 15,000 - 16,000 in the metro
area and continues to invest in new plant expansion. Some large high-tech
companies thrive. Beaverton-based Merix Corp., for example, was sold
in 2010 to Viasystems Group. The St. Louis-based giant primarily assembles
circuit boards abroad, but retained Merix's Forest Grove electronics-assembly
plant for defense business, quick-turn jobs and prototypes. Hillsboro-based
TriQuint Semiconductor, with 845 Oregon employees, makes components
for wireless communication. It has added more than 800 employees company-wide
since 2006, and plans to add about 160 more this year for a total 2,760.
Solar panel companies have taken over the chip plants as this industry
is growing and retrofitting a chip plant to solar panel is relatively
inexpensive. Oregon has used subsidies and other incentives to attract
solar companies. Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. employs about 200 at a Salem
solar plant. Germany's SolarWorld employs about 900 workers in Hillsboro.
Many services-based ecosystem have bloomed in the last
few years: micro breweries, bike shops, advertising agencies and
apparel firms. It's a business ecology that prizes progressive
social values and livability, not raw wealth and power.
Portland is big into shoes mainly because Nike has
created a pool of talented shoe designers in the area. Shoes companies
in the Portland area include Danner, Lacrosse, Columbia Sportswear,
Keen, and Le Coq Sportiff. They do the design here but almost
all the manufacturing is done overseas. But it takes more than
designers to make a successful shoe company. For example, a special
skill-set is necessary to understand and negotiate the contracts with
Pacific Rim companies for the manufacturing.
A good example of taking this business ecology one
step further into actual manufacturing is
United Streetcar,
LLC (a subsidiary of
Oregon Iron Works,
Inc.). United Streetcar and
SKODA have partnered
to produce modern, efficient, American-manufactured streetcars and to
be a pioneering force in increasing urban transit options throughout
the United States. In 2009, United Streetcar completed manufacturing
the first Buy-America compliant modern streetcar for the City of Portland,
Oregon. These cars will be on the streets of Portland in 2010. Many
other cities in the USA have expressed an interest in purchasing United
streetcars.
Switching Careers
Pity the company that is looking for a whiz at HTML5,
the up-and-coming Web language. Or the business seeking people to develop
mobile applications or a social media strategy. There aren’t enough
of these types to go around, and positions remain vacant despite the
urgent need.
Why, then, is the unemployment rate at 9.1 percent?
Partly because there is so much less need for real estate agents, desktop-computer
hardware designers, administrative assistants and others. The skills
mismatch between demand and supply is acute. At this point, a frustrated
mortgage loan officer who has applied for hundreds of jobs may be wondering:
Should I just give up and become a skin care specialist — one of the
fastest-growing job categories listed by the Labor Department?
Switching to a new career is a drastic step. Before
you pursue it, ask yourself: Is your skill becoming obsolete, or is
it just in a cyclical funk? Construction managers may be having a hard
time now, but they will eventually be in demand again. A government-sponsored
site, acinet.org, projects
growth for various professions.
Source:
New York Times,
June 19, 2011
National Web Sites for Finding a Job
in the Portland Metro Area
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All Job Center
Job Viewer/Resume Broadcaster automatically retrieves job listing
from major job search engines, broadcast resumes to multiple
positions, automatically compose cover letter according to job description,
automatically dispatch job to specific folder, and automatically
highlight keywords. Job seekers can use All Job Center to
work off-line, organize jobs and submit multiple applications with
one click.
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Best Driver
Jobs They work with a number of carriers that haul freight
in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
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BestJobsUSA
A site with many claims - it displayed over 1,000 jobs in Portland
for "all categories." Check out "America's Best Places to
Live and Work" - Portland is number ten.
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Career Journal
Sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, this site is targeted at the
upwardly mobile professional. Relocation information and a
salary calculator. Free. PC Magazine "Editor's Choice"
in May 2002.
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Career Builder
Searched for all jobs in Portland under the Quick Search and stopped
counting at 100 plus. You can post a resume, career resources,
and three methods of searching. No advanced registration to
search for a job.
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Career Jet
Career Jet gives job seekers access to a large selection of jobs
that are sourced from various internet sites.
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Craig's
List It's free!
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Dice Dice is a online Information Technology ( IT ) job
board with high tech permanent, contract and consulting jobs.
Dice found 962 IT jobs in Portland.
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Flip Dog
Very colorful and big tabs to click on so easy to navigate.
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Green
Jobs Learn more about fields like ecotoxicology, marine
biology, pollution prevention, and urban forestry.
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Jobs All jobs/all category/Portland Oregon: Search
resulted in 80 jobs.
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Job Direct
They claim they are the leading web-based job search site for college
and entry-level professional positions. You can signup for
a e-mail job alert by location and profession. Registration
required - you build a resume and career path.
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Job Search
USA Founded in 2006, the site has about 25 jobs (January
2007) posted for Oregon. The site makes it easy to find job
postings.
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Hot Jobs Easy
to search for jobs - no registration required. Found close
to 100 jobs in Portland by doing a Quick Search. Post a resume,
career resources, free newsletter, job fairs.
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Indeed
Indeed's complimentary and comprehensive search engine for jobs
provides the latest job opportunities.
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Monster
Monster is a well known site. Monster displayed upwards of
a 1,000 jobs in the Portland area.
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Net-Temps
Primary a site to find a "contract job" but also full-time perm
positions listed.
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Renewable
Energy Jobs in the renewable energy field.
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Trucking
Jobs Truck driving jobs are listed at the site with many
of America’s trucking companies.
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USA Jobs Online
This site combines jobs from many job search engines such as Monster,
Hot Jobs, etc.
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Yahoo Jobs
Not just job listings but all about jobs—from résumé writing to
how to get a raise once your foot's in the door.
Local Web Sites for Finding
a Job in the Portland Metro Area
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Creative Staffing: Mathys+Potestio
Mathys+Potestio provides creative agencies, design firms and corporate marketeers with creative talent on a contract, contract-to-hire,
or direct hire basis. For key hires, they offer retained search
services. The company also promotes employee empowerment and growth
by helping clients manage their talent resources.
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Jobs Dango
Their slogan is "Northwest jobs for Northwest people."
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Oregon Business
Magazine They list the "100 Best Companies in Oregon to
Work For."
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OregonLive
OregonLive is affiliated with The Oregonian (Oregon's largest newspaper).
You can connect with the Help Wanted ads from The Oregonian.
OregonLive also has a career section where you register, post your
resume, etc.
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Oregon Tradeswomen
Dedicated to promoting success for women in the trades through education,
leadership and mentorship.
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Portland
Business Alliance A non-profit "Chamber of Commerce" type
organization. They sell a number of publications to help job seekers
such as the Largest Employers of the
Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan Area.
Click on "Publications" at their Web site to order.
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Portland Business Journal They have jobs posted by 27
different categories.
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Portland
Recruiter Company maintains 15 plus "recruiter" sites
(e.g., Seattle Recruiter, etc.) in major US cities.
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Portland
Twitter Jobs Lists a few jobs plus news about the Portland
job market.
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PDX Jobs
Commercial search firm that lists only a handful of jobs.
For example, only three high tech jobs were listed. Registration
required but they do offer a visit.
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Portland Preferred Jobs If I were looking for a job, this
is where I would start. Easy to use and lots of search options.
Lots of jobs listed but the dates they were posted seem to be months
past. Also list job fairs. You can post your resume
and no registration is required.
Portland Metro Area Largest Employers
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Intel Corporation - 16,500
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Providence Health Systems - 13,500
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Safeway - 13,000
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Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) - 11,300
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Fred Meyer Stores - 10,500
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Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest
- 8,747
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Legacy Health Systems - 8,500
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State of Oregon - 6,700
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Nike - 5,500
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City of Portland - 5,498
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Portland Public School, - 5,047
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Wells Fargo - 5,000
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U.S. Bank - 4,138
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Portland State University - 4,000
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United Parcel Service (UPS) - 3,900
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Beaverton School District, 3,886
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Portland Community College - 3,400
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Vancouver School District - 3,228
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Southwest Washington Medical Center - 3,200
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McDonald's Corporation - 3,000
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Portland General Electric (PGE) - 2,652
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Farmers Insurance Company of Oregon - 2,500
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Standard Insurance Company - 2,500
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Volt Services Group - 2,500
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TriMet - 2,495
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Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon - 2,495
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Albertsons Food Centers - 2,351
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Freightliner - 1,500
Source:
Portland Business
Alliance
Not-For-Profit Web Sites for Finding a Job in Portland
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One Stop Workforce
Development System The Region 2 One Stop Workforce Development
System in Multnomah, Washington and Tillamook Counties and the City
of Portland in Oregon is a cooperative effort between many state
and local agencies, businesses and organizations. The One
Stop Career Centers bring employment, training and other services
to Oregonians in a convenient and accessible manner. A very
useful site for finding a job plus other job related information!
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Oregon Bioscience Association OBA's mission is to promote the
growth and quality of the
bioscience industry in the State of Oregon and ensure it achieves
its full economic and social potential. OBA is a non-profit
association with membership open to any company, organization or
individual with an interest in biotechnology, medical devices, or
the life sciences. They list a good number of job openings in the
bioscience field on the site.
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Portland OR Job Compendium The opening page states, "Welcome
to my jobs page. This is not meant to be beautiful -- just usable".
That is an understatement as the site is very usable and helpful
- numerous links to job hunting sites and employers.
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Oregon Employment Department Lists job opening throughout
the state of Oregon.
Women and Diversity Sites for Finding a Job
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Career Women
Career portal by and for women. Post your resume, search CW
job bank, career women resources and more.
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Diversity
Search Diversity career portal for minorities, females
and other diversity job seekers and diversity recruiters.
Green Job Resources
Employers in the Portland area that are devoted to green
technology:
SolarWorld (solar panels),
Portland
Energy Conservation Inc. (electricity generation), and
Vestas
(wind power).
Online Job Boards
Social Networks
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Green Drinks Beer, conversation, and a chance to network
with other environmentally minded people. The group meets
at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, first floor, Ecotrust,
721 N.W. Ninth Avenue. Green Drinks also meets in Oregon cities
such as Eugene, Hood River, and Vancouver. Find your city at
greendrinks.org/index.php
Education Institutions to Help you Prepare for a Green
Job
Government grants can help pay for training. In most
cases, laid-off workers enrolled in an approved program can continue
to receive unemployment benefits. To determine eligibility, find the
WorkSource Center near you at
www2.worksourceportlandmetro.org.
Employers in The Portland Area
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AT&T
The world’s largest communications company.
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Fred Meyer Known as Freddie to the locals - this is where
many Oregonians get their food. Subsidiary of
Kroger.
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Freightliner
Makers of heavy duty trucks. The corporate office and largest
assembly plant is located in Portland with about 4,000 employees.
Subsidiary of ChryslerDaimler.
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Hewlett Packard
One of high tech employer in Oregon. Most of the jobs are
in Corvallis which is 75 miles southwest of Portland and Vancouver.
HP is reducing the number of Oregon employees as jobs are being
outsourced as well as shifted to overseas.
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Intel Oregon's largest private employer with about 15,000
employees in the Portland area. Chip fab plus R&D center.
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Legacy Health
Systems Legacy employees 8,500 people in Oregon working
in their hospitals and clinics.
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Macy's
The Meier and Frank department stores have a long history in Oregon.
The Meier and Frank name disappeared in 2007 as the popular Pacific
Northwest chain was purchased by Macy's.
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Nike
The whoosh! One of two Fortune 500 companirs in Oregon
− they employ about 3,500 at their corporate
headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
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Oregon Health
Science University Depending upon how you count,
it is one of Portland top employers (over 11,000 employees).
You will want to consider OHSU for a job as its reputation is increasing
daily as a top health research and health care facility.
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Providence Health System A not-for-profit health care
company (hospitals and clinics) with facilities in Alaska, California,
Oregon, and Washington. Providence is the 2nd largest employer
in Oregon with 13,700 jobs.
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Tektronix
Corporate headquarters is located in Beaverton (first
suburb west of Portland) and the first high tech company in Oregon.
Tektronix is focused on five key product areas: 1) Oscilloscopes,
2) communications (lead-generation RF and broadcast test solutions),
3) networked video, 4) television (Tektronix is the world's
leading supplier of television test solutions), 5) and Digital,
Optical and Accessories. The printer division was sold off
in 1999.
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Wal-Mart Stores
The "Always Low Prices" company has 11,000 employees in Oregon.
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Top
50 Companies in Oregon The region's Top 50 public companies
by total market value as of the first quarter, 2007.
Source: Bloomberg News and The Oregonian.
Government/Public Employers in Portland and Oregon
Education Employers in The Portland Area
Employment Agencies/Headhunters
With numerous staffing/employment agencies located
in the Portland Metro area, it is impossible to list them all.
We suggest the following:
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Search the
Qwest online
telephone directory for Portland and use the category "Employment
Agencies".
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American
Staffing Association A member association for staffing
companies. Try the
JobSeek page where you pick the state, skills, and type of position
desired - this will take you to a list of staffing companies.
The Oregon
Chapter is located in Portland.
Oregon Labor Market Information
Networking
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Concrete
The Studio is a monthly salon event at a webshop with an art
gallery.
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AIGA Portland
is an all-volunteer organization that connects local designers to
the collective voice, experience, and resources of 52 AIGA chapters
nationwide. Check out the dMob events on the AIGA Web site.
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Portland
PHP User Group is a techie group of production folk who like
to have a good time. That's worth checking out if you're a geek
that doesn't want a "seminar."
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