Employer-Paid

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped by 42,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 338,000, the biggest drop since November 2012.

Veterans groups are fighting curbs in annual pension increases for military retirees under age 62 that are part of the new budget deal passed by Congress last week.

Most employers have decided to continue offering group insurance to full-time employees for the next 12 months.

The law provides a break of $2,400 to $9,600 to businesses that hire military veterans.

The Labor Department says employers added jobs in 43 states and cut jobs in just seven.

Will these private health exchanges provide the coverage needed? Will they help save employers money?