Employee Participation

A survey shows U.S. manufacturing shrank in November to its weakest level since July 2009. The impact of Superstorm Sandy and worries about automatic tax increases that could take effect in January combined to reduce factory orders and manufacturing jobs.

Todays workforce is more diverse, and women are no exception to this trend. In fact, women are filling more senior leadership roles than they were just 10 years ago, which can be attributed to a shift in attitude in the workplace.

Americans cut back on spending last month while their income remained flat. The weakness in part reflected disruptions from Superstorm Sandy that could slow economic growth for the rest of the year.

State officials in Georgia are reaching out to over 500 people who lost their jobs in the recent Hostess company liquidation.

Montana's Labor Department says the average unemployment insurance rate for employers is going down because more residents are returning to work.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 393,000 last week. It was the second straight drop after Superstorm Sandy had driven applications much higher earlier this month.