Jan 29, 2024

The office support jobs’ sluggish comeback

LifestyleVisuals/Getty Images

The jobs that keep offices running saw a bit of growth in 2023. Plus, Chinese property firm Evergrande is set to liquidate.

Segments From this episode

It's been a bumpy ride for the office jobs that support office jobs

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Jan 29, 2024

Jobs in this kind of work — the work that makes offices and buildings run, makes them nice — grew about 2.6% last year. It's growth but it's not huge growth.

The slow and uneven return to office leaves the future of office ecosystems up in the air.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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With Chinese developer Evergrande set to liquidate, impact may spread beyond investors

by Mitchell Hartman

Jan 29, 2024

Unwinding the debt-burdened company will likely create large losses among creditors and could trigger some capital flight.

An Evergrande Group residential complex in Beijing. The company has $300 billion in total liabilities.

Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

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To fight vacant housing, Baltimore turns to the blockchain

by Amy Scott

Jan 29, 2024

The city hopes the technology behind cryptocurrency can streamline transactions. It's part of a proposed plan to address blight.

Someone once painted 1415 Myrtle Ave. in Baltimore sky blue; it's been vacant since at least 2016. A pilot program would record all of the now 13,600 vacant properties in the city on the blockchain.

Amy Scott/Marketplace

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Teens have "kept the economy going," and their workforce numbers show it

by Kai Ryssdal , Sarah Leeson and Sean McHenry

Jan 29, 2024

"About 37% of teens worked last year," says Abha Bhattarai of The Washington Post. "These teens are really excited," employers tell her.

Teen employment reached a 14-year high in 2023, according to the Labor Department.

Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

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As war and drought throttle supply chains, importers reopen pandemic playbooks

by Justin Ho

Jan 29, 2024

Firms that import goods are returning to pandemic-era strategies to brace their businesses against delays and higher shipping costs.

Because of ongoing delays, some importers are stocking up on goods and passing along price hikes.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

"Antenna" Bonobo

"Brukstep" Mark de Clive-Lowe

"Occasional Magic" Yppah

"Forget Your Name" spring gang

"Simple Step" Vulfpeck, Antwaun Stanley

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Sofia Terenzio Assistant Producer

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

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