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Initial applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell to the lowest in a month last week, underscoring continued strength in the labor market despite a growing number of high-profile job cuts at large companies.
Initial claims decreased by 12,000 to 201,000 in the week ending Feb. 17, according to Labor Department data released on Thursday. The figure was lower than all economists’ estimates in a Bloomberg survey.
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With financial preparedness a continuing challenge, according to a new MetLife survey, employers have the opportunity to better equip their people through emergency savings and financial wellness benefits.
A false sense of job security can make layoffs especially difficult for veteran workers, but outplacement access can ease the transition.
Employees look for alternative healthcare coverage in the wake of rising premiums, sparking concern over care gaps and group plan disruption.
A meaningful treatment strategy prioritizes early access, trusted guidance and right-site care before pain escalates into imaging, injections, surgery or long-term disability.
Brokers who thrive will be those who help clients see what altitude sickness obscures and provide the diagnostic tools to design benefits that actually work at ground level.
