Since the recession ended more than two years ago, most of the improvement in the job market has been because of a sharp drop in layoffs, which have returned to pre-recession levels.
Mine company settles death cases
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — A mining company has settled wrongful death lawsuits with families of all 29 victims of West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch disaster, an attorney for the estates of two miners said Tuesday.
Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources did not confirm the agreement or otherwise comment, but attorney Mark Moreland said the final deals were cut Tuesday afternoon after a marathon mediation session. He said Alpha also settled lawsuits by at least seven miners who were injured in the April 2010 blast, the worst U.S. mine disaster in four decades.
Although some lawsuits had long since been settled, mediation of the final 19 began last week and continued through Tuesday. Moreland, who represented the estates of miners Ronald Lee Maynor and William Griffith, would not disclose the terms of the agreements.
Hiring rose to 4.15M in November
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers stepped up their hiring in November but pulled back slightly on the number of jobs they advertised.
The mostly favorable report shows companies are gaining confidence in the economy and filling more open positions. It follows other encouraging data on hiring that suggest 2012 may be a better year for job growth.
Employers filled almost 4.15 million jobs in November, a 3 percent increase from the previous month, the Labor Department said Tuesday.
Since the recession ended more than two years ago, most of the improvement in the job market has been because of a sharp drop in layoffs, which have returned to pre-recession levels.