While I’m using Philadelphia as the example here, what I’ve really determined from just a bit of rudimentary research is that the employment market for paralegals is strong. I would say “remains strong,” but that would be a bit of a misnomer. As unemployment levels remain at or near 10% nationwide, the number of employment opportunities in the paralegal field has returned to levels that were seen in 2005 and early 2006 in Philly, while not nearly approaching the mid-2006 through early-2007 numbers. Nationwide, things are a bit less rosy than in the “City of Brotherly Love,” but the market for paralegal jobs, if I can refer to it as such, is still stronger nationwide than many other mid-level employment fields.
Philadelphia paralegal jobs in particular jumped dramatically during that latter time frame mentioned, but were more stable in the years immediately preceding that time and appear to have stabilized in 2010. In truth, that stabilization began in early to mid-2009, but has continued now, even as the nationwide employment market has been quite stagnant.

Now, before a bunch of commenters note that they’re have a difficult time finding work in the paralegal field, let me note that I’m talking aggregate numbers here, not anecdotal evidence. The gist here is that there are worse professions to be in at present (insert financial adviser/stock broker joke here), so things could certainly be tougher.

The Locate Jobs Network has again launched a group of highly-targeted, niche job boards, featuring new sites that focus on the fields of medicine, science, design and maintenance. A brief blurb about each new board is located here:

• Locate Maintenance Jobs - This maintenance job board offers positions that range from entry-level to jobs for facilities maintenance managers. Candidates can view nationwide maintenance job listings and postings are updated regularly.
• Locate Science Jobs - This science jobs website offers positions in both academia and private industry, from positions for new graduates to career listings for Ph.Ds.
• Locate Medical Jobs - This nationwide medical job search website features positions from health care administration through positions for physicians in a variety of specialties.
• Locate Design Jobs - Design job board offers candidates in a variety of industries and sub-specialties a vast array of job listings, from interior and fashion design positions to jobs for design engineers.

Each of the new job boards, in keeping with the paradigm adopted by the Locate Jobs Network features a “vertical” approach to a given employment field or industry. Employers and recruiters can post jobs online easily and cost-effectively, resulting in an effective tool for online candidate recruiting.

The Locate Jobs Network has added four new niche job search websites, with further notes on the new launches here:

• Locate Media Jobs - Features nationwide media job listings, as well as a variety of sub-specialties within the industry, ranging from jobs in television to new media jobs, newspaper employment listings and many more.
• Locate Technology Jobs - Technology job search site that offers candidates regularly-updated job listings in IT, biotech, biomedical engineering and related fields, as well as job posting functionality for recruiters and hiring managers.
• Locate Computer Jobs - Computer jobs site features positions for PC technicians, help desk specialists, web hosting providers and many more.
• Locate Analyst Jobs - This analyst job board features positions throughout various industries, including equity analyst jobs, positions for data, policy and research analysts, and jobs in IT, the physical and social sciences, business and finance.

Each of the four new niche job boards offers cost-effective job posting for employers, hiring managers and recruiters, as well as a value proposition based on the targeted, “vertical” approach of the job search sites.