Things are dire enough that a coalition of employers and labor unions is asking Congress for permission to cut benefits to retired truck drivers, miners and others as a last resort in order to prevent plans from going under.

Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell for the first time in three weeks as employers retained workers to meet demand.

Service industries expanded more than forecast in January as the biggest part of the U.S. economy overcame the effects of snow and freezing temperatures to boost hiring by the most in more than three years.

While low-wage workers would benefit from a pay raise, some say the trade-off could be fewer jobs, shorter workweeks and less incentive to acquire skills and get better positions.

Applications for unemployment benefits held near a six-week low, showing firings remain muted following the holidays.

Seven recipients of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences were among 75 economists endorsing an increase in the minimum wage for U.S. workers.

Jobless claims declined by 15,000 to 330,000 in the period ended Jan. 4.