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Despite the ailing economy, more than half (52 percent) of parents are saving the same amount or more for college, according to a national study of parents from Sallie Mae and Gallup on "How America Saves for College." In addition, parents overwhelmingly expect their children to pursue higher education (92 percent) and half (48 percent) plan to pay for most or all of the cost.

"Financially distressed employees have trouble functioning in their jobs, and this is hurting their physical health as well as taking a bite out of the employer's bottom line," says Dr. E. Thomas Garman, president, Personal Finance Employee Education Foundation (PFEEF).

Workers who have survived layoffs within their organizations are facing new challenges in the forms of increased workloads and heightened stress, according to CareerBuilder's latest survey of more than 4,400 workers nationwide. Forty-seven percent of workers reported they have taken on more responsibility because of a layoff within their organization. Thirty-seven percent said they are handling the work of two people. Thirty percent feel burned out.

VASCO Data Security International, Inc. announces the results of its aXsGUARD(TM) Gatekeeper Internet Threat Survey. VASCO surveyed 700 small and medium sized enterprises with 5 to 250 internet users, revealing malicious activity during the first quarter of 2009. aXsGUARD Gatekeeper is an authentication and internet security appliance, making use of VASCO's core authentication technology.

As U.S. unemployment has risen to a 25-year high, a new trend study from the University of California San Diego Extension reveals some of the hottest career options for college graduates in this recession.

After five consecutive quarters of record-low levels of optimism in the U.S. economy, the rate of decline in attitudes among CEOs of the nation's leading private companies surveyed for PricewaterhouseCoopers' Private Company Trendsetter Barometer appear to have stabilized. For the first time in recent months, attitudes among CEOs are beginning to show some optimism that the U.S. economy may begin to recover in early 2010. Looking at the next 12 months, optimism rose seven points to 19 percent, only seven points lower than the 26 percent who were optimistic a year ago when the U.S. first entered the recession cycle. While pessimism has dropped 13 points from a majority 54 percent in the prior quarter to 41 percent, insecurity towards the U.S. economy is still prevalent, with 40 percent of CEOs responding "uncertain" about the next year.

The so-called "hidden health tax" for family health care coverage grew to $1,017 in 2008 according to a report released by the consumer health organization Families USA.

Engineers, Nurses and Skilled/Manual Trades are among the nation's most challenging positions to fill, according to survey findings released by Manpower Inc.

The share of families with an unemployed member rose from 6.3 percent in 2007 to 7.8 percent in 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The proportion of families with an unemployed member in 2008 neared the recent peak of 8.1 percent in 2003. Of the nation's 77.9 million families, 82.2 percent had at least one employed member in 2008, down by 0.4 percentage point from 2007.

Mortgage rates bounded higher this week, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 5.45 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.41 discount and origination points.