Some employers wage bidding wars for scarce workers

Karen Quintana is keenly aware of how hard it is for companies to find workers who can handle the government red tape and other complexities of shipping containers of electronics, toys and machine parts in and out of the nation's largest port complex in San Pedro Bay.

Once companies do find a qualified applicant, said Quintana, president of L.A'.s Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association, it's not uncommon for them to already have four other offers.

At that point, Quintana said, "there is a bidding war."

As unemployment hits record lows, Southern California employers are increasingly being forced to compete for a dwindling supply of workers. In many cases,