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The "Great Recession" may have ended, but its impact on the U.S. workforce and employment itself looks to be deep and longlasting, according to the results of new research from global professional services company Towers Watson. The Global Workforce Study (GWS) - a biennial survey of employee attitudes and workplace trends - confirms that the recession has fundamentally altered the way U.S. employees view their work and leaders today, while dramatically accelerating changes to the basic social contract that underpins employment here. In stark contrast to earlier Global Workforce Studies, the 2010 results indicate that U.S. employees have dramatically lowered their career and retirement expectations for the foreseeable future. On-the-job advancement now takes a back seat to a growing desire for workplace security and stability - at the very point in time when traditional employment safety nets are eroding.

Climate change and over-use of water will mean that nearly on in every two people will live in water-stressed areas by 2030. Households, industry and agriculture will increasingly compete for water, leaving little to sustain ecosystems.

Calling all Americans: Get an advisor. Get a plan. Get rebuilding. That’s the message from the Principal Financial Group® in its launch of the new multi-faceted America Rebuilds campaign including an online planning center at www.AmericaRebuilds.com.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.K. increased 0.8 percent, and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) remained unchanged in January.

Americans are split when it comes to how the recession has impacted their retirement savings strategy. A COUNTRY Financial survey reveals that while 48 percent have decreased the amount of money they are putting away for their golden years, an equal number have either increased (12 percent) or maintained their level of savings (35 percent).

Commercial real estate investors reveal a sense of hopefulness and improved sentiment with regard to the industry as the U.S. economy shows some encouraging signs of improvement, according to the first quarter 2010 findings of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey™. The report notes that investors find it easier to envision a commercial real estate market recovery today than at any point during the past 24 months. At the same time, however, investors acknowledge that challenges and concerns still exist.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace is currently 4.78 percent, up two basis points from 4.76 percent compared to this same time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose and fell the past week with a Monday spike to 4.85 percent.

The number of persons employed in the euro area (EA16) fell by 0.2% (347 000 persons) in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the same period, the number of persons employed in the EU27 decreased by 0.3% (583 000 persons). In the third quarter of 2009, employment declined by 0.5% in both zones. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

As President Obama continues his push for health care reform legislation and tackles the issue of jobs, his job ratings have been holding steady over the past few months. Currently, two in five U.S. adults (41%) give the job the president is doing a positive rating while 59% give it a negative rating. In January, almost the same numbers gave him positive ratings (40%) and negative ones (60%).

Strengthening environmental protection should be part of government plans to overcome Greece’s economic and financial crisis, says a new OECD report.