The total number of jobs added to the national economy did not meet expectations, but the overall payroll additions lowered the unemployment rate by 0.4 percent in December, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The snowstorms that battered the Northeast in recent weeks are costing small towns large sums in overtime pay, according to the Atlantic City Press.

Growth of Maine's economy will lag behind national trends, but state employees will receive a boost due to the payroll tax holiday, stated Charles Colgan, an economist at the University of Southern Maine, to the Bangor Daily News.

Lucasfilm, the filmmaking company led by renowned director George Lucas, reached a settlement with the United States Department of Justice after it was targeted for inappropriate employee recruiting practices, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Monroe, Louisiana, mayor Jamie Mayo will review the city's practice of overtime pay after a discrepancy in the city's engineering department allowed a worker on sick leave to collect unconfirmed amounts of overtime earnings, the Monroe News-Star reports.

Payroll errors stemming from a December misallocation of payroll will cost Fort Worth, Texas, residents approximately $1.8 million, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Former Connecticut state employee Lisa E. Bloomer will be serving time at a state facility after she was found guilty of forging payroll and time and attendance documents, the Norwich Bulletin reports.

Improving economic conditions have many analysts forecasting stronger employment numbers for 2011. Yet, while forecasts may predict stronger job growth, how it will be attained will depend on employee recruiting trends.

The newly mandated 2 percent cut in social security taxes will eventually put more money in the pocket of employees.