Unemployment, Workers | featured news

These are anxious days for American workers. Many are underemployed. Others find pay that is simply not keeping up with their expenses.

At a time of lingering economic malaise, gyrating markets and high unemployment, it's not surprising that workers around the world are less than content at their jobs. They're also feeling a diminished sense of loyalty, according to a new global analysis of data gathered by Mercer, the giant New York City-based human resources consulting firm.

Economists think some of the missing workers have retired, have entered college or are getting by on government disability checks.

Employers appear to be laying off workers again as the economic recovery weakens. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits reached the half-million mark last week for the first time since November.

About one million laid-off workers will see their benefits end in January unless federally paid extensions get renewed.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless insurance hit a nine-month low last week and retailers reported their first monthly sales gain in over a year on Thursday, easing fears that recovery from recession would be unsustainable.

Cindy Goodman was having dinner with a group of girlfriends one night when the conversation took a surprising turn.

Latin American workers who have lost their jobs are being offered money to return to their home countries.