Employer-Paid

According to two independent surveys commissioned by Grant Thornton, executives are becoming more optimistic regarding the economic outlook for U.S. businesses, despite the problems in Europe and growing concerns from China.

U.S. factories are roaring back from the depths of the recession, cranking out more machinery, vehicles and energy.

Base pay raises for sales personnel are expected to return in 2012, according to the findings from the 2012 Sales Compensation Trends Survey, by the Alexander Group and WorldatWork.

Iowa lawmakers considered changes Tuesday to an economic development tool used for decades in some cities and counties that critics have alleged is unfairly relocating jobs from one community to another.

With television lights glaring, 20 lawmakers will gather next week to revisit the fight that consumed Congress before Christmas over renewing a Social Security payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits.

Employee development spending increased 9.5 percent in 2011.