Oklahoman (01/23/14) Paul Monies

Express Employment Professionals has reported an 8% increase in sales by its franchises to $2.5 billion in 2013 from $2.3 billion in 2012. The company added 75 new offices last year and also reported a gain in the number of workers it placed to more than 395,000 from 367,000 in 2012. With demand still high for temporary workers, the company anticipates a 10% jump in sales for 2014.

Information technology and accounting professionals are in high demand, says Bob Funk, chief executive officer and chairman, who adds that manufacturing jobs have rebounded. He notes that firms are concerned about taxes, as well as the direction of the economy and the impact of the Affordable Care Act on costs.

Bloomberg (01/23/14) Michelle Jamrisko; Lorraine Woellert

Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose 1,000 to 326,000 in the period ended Jan. 18, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg forecasted 330,000 claims. The four-week moving average declined to 331,500 from 335,250 in the prior week.

Wall Street Journal (01/22/14) Jon Ostrower

Boeing Co. is hiring more than 300 contract mechanics and inspectors at its plant in North Charleston, SC, and could eventually hire as many as 1,000. This is a reversal for the plant, which let go hundreds of contract workers last year.