Employee-Paid

With cuts to health benefits plans, employers are looking for ways to add value to employees. And one way to do that is by offering more voluntary benefits.

No end appears in sight for a stalemate that's held hostage extended unemployment benefits for North Carolina's long-term jobless for nearly a month, state legislative leaders said Tuesday.

While the job market at times still looks pretty lousy, a new survey has some upbeat findings, as well as some not-so-rosy results. Many laid-off employees have been hired back, less are taking pay cuts, yet women and older workers are having trouble finding work.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott is calling his first legislative session a success, pointing at tax cuts, changes to the Medicaid program, education bills, a measure requiring state employees to pay into their pensions and more as victories that will make Florida more attractive for businesses.

The economy gained 244,000 net jobs in April — the third straight month of solid gains. Yet the unemployment rate rose from 8.8 percent to 9 percent.

Companies created 268,000 jobs in April, the most since February 2006. The gains were widespread. Retailers, factories, financial companies, education and health care and even construction companies all added jobs.