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Is Sun Life (TSX:SLF) Quietly Redefining Its Health Ecosystem With Disability Care Navigation?
In late September 2026, Sun Life U.S. introduced Disability with Health Navigator, integrating personalized care navigation into disability coverage to help employees access specialized opinions, providers, and employer-specific benefits while facing major health conditions or seeking ongoing support. This move extends Health Navigator’s reach across disability, standalone offerings and medical stop-loss coverage, underlining Sun Life’s focus on year-round health support within employer...
Commentary: Universal public health insurance is the answer
Employer-sponsored health insurance is rapidly deteriorating. In 2027, premiums are expected to see their largest single-year increase in two decades, jumping 11% and closing in on a nearly five-fold increase
UW College of Business career fair connects students with employers
The University of Wyoming College of Business recently hosted its annual career fair and Meet the Firms events in the Jonah Bank Atrium, bringing employers from across Wyoming and the
STC: Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow
What does the future of transportation mean for the Rio Grande Valley workforce? South Texas College President Ricardo Solis sees opportunities in logistics, international trade, and emerging technology. Through industry partnerships, STC is connecting workforce training with employers’ needs and preparing for electric trucks, automation, and artificial intelligence.
Bishop’s computer science chair says AI is eliminating ‘grunt work’ and reshaping digital jobs
Dr. Russell Butler, chair of Bishop’s University’s Department of Computer Science, says artificial intelligence is increasingly taking over routine digital “grunt work,” changing the skills students and workers may need in the years ahead. Photo courtesy of Bishop’s University. Click here to read our platform! Get local news like this every morning. Subscribe free below. Subscribe Pulse Newsroom Artificial intelligence is already taking over some of the routine digital work once performed by entry-level employees, according to Bishop’s University Computer Science chair Dr. Russell Butler — a shift he believes will make expertise, judgement and the ability to evaluate AI-generated work increasingly important. Butler described the change as automation reaching what he calls the “bottom of the cognitive pyramid” during an interview with The Pulse about AI, university education and the future of digital work. His argument is not that humans are disappearing from the workplace. Instead, he sees their role changing as AI becomes capable of handling more of the repetitive tasks involved in computer-based work. “Everything’s converging on just AI basically doing all the grunt work,” Butler said. The bottom of the cognitive pyramid Butler is from Lennoxville, completed his undergraduate studies at Bishop’s and later earned his PhD at the Université de Sherbrooke. He joined Bishop’s in 2019 and now chairs its Department of Computer Science. He uses AI in research, teaching and other creative work, and said the technology is increasingly capable of handling routine digital tasks that once required substantial human time. “You’ve got the grunt work, like moving things around in Excel, doing basic programming tasks,” Butler said. “That’s like the bottom grunt work that the entry-level worker would have done two or three years ago.” Butler went further, saying in his view that much of this type of work has already been absorbed by AI tools. He connected that change to a shift he sees taking place in computer science, where entry-level roles have declined while experienced workers can use AI to increase what they can produce. “A senior developer now has access to essentially an unlimited amount of junior developers on demand,” Butler said. He was describing AI systems metaphorically, not literal employees. His point was that one experienced developer can now ask AI tools to produce code or other technical work that might previously have been assigned to more junior workers. That raises a broader question for universities and employers. If some of the simpler work traditionally given to newcomers can now be done by machines, how do people gain the experience needed to become senior workers themselves? Students doing work that once required years of programming Butler said he is already seeing the change inside his classroom. He created a Bishop’s course called CS208, Coding in Plain English, to show students — including those without traditional programming backgrounds — what they can accomplish using AI. Some come from disciplines such as psychology or neuroscience with no previous programming experience. “What I’m finding is that students who have zero programming experience, they come in from another discipline like psychology or neuroscience or something, they are now able to get up and running with real data sets,” Butler said. Butler’s own doctoral work involved neuroimaging, and he said he has assigned students work he considers comparable to the kinds of analysis he performed during his PhD. He described giving students a real dataset, an expected result and instructions to use AI to complete the analysis. Butler said those students have been able to carry out work at a level he associates with tasks he once performed after years of programming experience. That does not mean a student using AI instantly acquires the same knowledge as an experienced computer scientist. But Butler sees it as evidence that AI can dramatically lower the technical barrier between having a problem to solve and producing a working result. The role of the person using the system then changes. They need to know what to ask for, understand enough about the subject to judge the answer and take responsibility for what is ultimately produced. What about AI hallucinations? One persistent concern surrounding generative AI is hallucination — when a system produces information that sounds convincing but is false or unsupported. Butler said that problem has improved substantially in newer systems and is not as severe as it was with earlier models. He pointed in particular to newer AI systems’ ability to search the web, consult scientific databases and return source links rather than simply generating a citation from their internal model. Butler nevertheless said users should verify what AI produces. “You should verify,” he said while discussing citations generated with AI. His position is that hallucinations have become less common in the systems he uses, not that incorrect AI output is impossible. Human checking remains part of the process. Hours of work compressed Butler offered another example from his administrative work at Bishop’s. The university has been comparing CEGEP courses with first-year Bishop’s courses to determine where students may qualify for advanced standing. Traditionally, Butler said, that means reviewing two sets of course descriptions and manually matching one institution’s courses with another’s. As department chair, that could require hours of reading and comparison. He said AI can now be given both sets of material and asked to generate an initial mapping automatically. “It saves me hours and hours of work,” Butler said. Butler said the AI-generated mapping can also produce a better result than he would produce himself. He sees similar opportunities in businesses. A company may receive specifications, drawings, emails or other digital material from customers and then have employees convert that information into an internal format before anything can be manufactured or delivered. AI can increasingly perform parts of that intermediate processing. In Butler’s view, the employee does not necessarily disappear. Instead, the job becomes more about checking the result. “The human is still there,” he said. Judgement could become more valuable That change is central to Butler’s view of where digital work may be headed. If AI can produce a first draft, write basic code, compare documents or process large amounts of information, he argues that knowledge and judgement become increasingly important. “The real scarce resource going forward is going to be domain knowledge, expertise, and… credentials, authority, the ability to work with other people,” Butler said. He is therefore encouraging students not only to learn AI tools but also to broaden their education. He mentioned acting, fine art and photography as examples of courses that can help develop what he described as taste and intuition — the ability to recognize what is good, what is not and what should be changed. “And that’s the skill that they need now because the grunt work has been automated and now it’s about evaluating what the AI produces and telling it how to improve or expand the output,” Butler said. That does not remove the need for technical knowledge. Butler’s argument is that the emphasis may shift away from manually completing every step of a task and toward directing, checking and improving work produced with AI assistance. He also stressed that humans remain responsible for final decisions. “At the end of the day, the human has to make the final call,” Butler said, pointing to the question of accountability. Physical work may be different Butler draws a distinction between digital work and jobs requiring people to manipulate the physical world. He expects AI to continue advancing quickly in tasks performed almost entirely on computers. He is more cautious about claims that humanoid robots will soon be able to replace workers such as plumbers or electricians. Butler said those trades would not be replaced “anytime soon” in his view and described some current robotics demonstrations as overhyped. He described the situation as counterintuitive. “It’s almost like we solved the highest level first,” he said, contrasting advances in digital AI with the harder problem of building robots capable of operating reliably in the physical world. Butler’s argument is that some digital occupations could face automation sooner than trades requiring complex physical work. The wider AI shift in the Townships Butler’s comments come as local institutions are increasingly grappling with how AI should be used. The federal government recently announced up to $162 million over five years for 10,000 AI-related placements through Mitacs. The Université de Sherbrooke told The Pulse that the number of its collaborative research and innovation projects supported through Mitacs has approximately doubled since 2018-19, while the number of placements has approximately tripled. UdeS also said it already has projects involving both AI adoption and the application of AI to other fields. At Bishop’s, Butler said part of his role involves building the Computer Science department’s local presence, connecting students with regional partners and strengthening relationships with the Sherbrooke technology ecosystem. Those developments put universities in a difficult position. They have to prepare students to use the tools employers increasingly have available while also making sure graduates understand enough to recognize when those tools are wrong, incomplete or being applied to the wrong problem. The risk of losing human skills Butler does not see AI as risk-free. Later in the interview, he raised a separate concern: as AI becomes better at reading, writing, programming and other cognitive tasks, people could lose some of the underlying skills that historically helped produce new ideas. “The other danger is that we’re going to lose the human skills,” Butler said. He specifically mentioned reading and writing and argued that people could lose some of the lower-level understanding that contributes to breakthroughs. Butler said AI systems are based on existing human knowledge and argued that they become much more powerful when paired with a capable person. That tension runs through his view of the technology. AI can remove hours of routine work. It can allow beginners to perform tasks that once required substantial technical training. It can give experienced workers significant leverage. But the more capable the technology becomes, the more important it may be for people to develop the judgement needed to decide what should be done in the first place. For Butler, that is where education may have to change. Students still need to understand their field. They still need to know when something is wrong. And they still need to be able to make the final decision. But if AI increasingly handles the bottom of the cognitive pyramid, the value of a worker may depend less on how quickly they can perform the grunt work and more on whether they understand what the work is supposed to accomplish. Don’t miss the next story that affects your community. Join thousands of readers getting The Pulse every morning—plus breaking news alerts when it matters most. If you value this kind of local journalism, consider supporting it. Subscribe, share and like! Subscribe Share
"Focus On My Health": Tony Romo Breaks Silence After CBS Pull the Plug on 9-Year Partnership
Tony Romo’s life hasn’t been the same ever since the former Dallas Cowboys star turned broadcaster was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) on July 23, 2026. His employer, CBS Sports, put him on indefinite leave eight days later, after which he pleaded no contest to a civil OWI offense.
Major Sarasota employer named Florida’s best for health care workers
A major Sarasota County employer ranks No. 1 in Florida for health care professionals after a sharp climb on a national list.
Sarasota employer surges into nation’s top 20 for health care workers
One of Sarasota County’s largest employers jumped from No. 75 to No. 17 nationally, earning Florida’s top spot for health care workers.
Florida small businesses want more help offering retirement plans, AARP survey finds
'The survey shows employers want practical solutions that make retirement saving easier and more accessible for their employees.'
Benefits platform Afore adds life insurance path through Ascent alliance
The referral arrangement gives Afore advisors access to buy-sell and estate planning for employer clients who also own businesses
Dr. Jeff Bird: Indiana University Health Serves the Healthcare Needs of Indiana
By Dr. Jeff Bird— MUNCIE, IN—Indiana University Health is the largest non-profit healthcare organization in Indiana. Annually it touches over 1 in 3 Hoosiers whole operating out of its 16 hospitals. IU Health is also one of the State’s largest employers with over 38,000 employees and more than
Iowa employers report stability in ABI quarterly survey
Iowa employers reported stable financial health and a neutral outlook on the economy for the fourth quarter in the Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s latest quarterly business survey. ABI surveys its board of directors each quarter to track business sentiment, identify common concerns and inform advocacy and programming priorities. Key survey findings include: Employers…
Expected Timeline for Mental Health Coverage Rule Slips to 2027
A forthcoming proposal overhauling how the federal government regulates employers’ mental health coverage is now expected next year, according to a legal filing from the Trump administration.
Oregon Moves to Implement Workplace Violence Law for Healthcare Settings
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) recently released a proposed rule to implement a new law that requires certain healthcare employers to implement a set of measures aimed at preventing workplace violence.
SCC partners with local businesses, school districts to build workforce pipeline
Educational leaders and area employers are joining forces to better prepare Columbus County students for high-demand local careers.
Rising health care costs: 3 changes that could make a difference
We know rising health care costs continue to put pressure on employers. But businesses don’t have to face these challenges alone.
Employers increasingly tie digital health payments to outcomes, PHTI survey finds
Performance-based contracting is becoming the norm for digital health solutions, with the majority of employers and health plans tying vendor payments to clinical and financial outcomes, according | The report drew insights from 321 digital health professionals responsible for purchasing across health plans, employers and health systems.
ABI predicts employer and financial stability for fourth quarter
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry reported that surveyed Iowa employers are looking towards 2026’s fourth quarter with a “neutral outlook”, approaching a stable economy and financially healthy end of the year. Each quarter, ABI surveys its board of directors in order to track business sentiment, identifying common concerns and inform upcoming priorities for […]
NYC business leader says Mamdani rhetoric risks driving companies, jobs out of city
Partnership for New York City CEO Steven Fulop says Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office denied reports of a planned campaign targeting CEOs but warns anti-business rhetoric, taxes and public safety concerns could push employers to leave New York.
Amazon still Bellevue’s top employer, but here's the catch
Amazon's growth in Bellevue last year was slower than anticipated, but the company said it's still committed to an eventual 25,000 employees in the city.
Judge orders DFA to maintain health insurance for St. Albans Creamery workers
St. Albans Creamery workers will continue to receive employer-provided health insurance while a legal battle plays out over the plant’s closure, according to a new court ruling this week.
Weight Watchers and Google Health Launch Weight Health Collaboration for Employers and Payers
Weight Watchers and Google Health Enterprise have launched a collaboration combining wearable technology, health insights and behavioral weight management, expanding Weight Watchers’ offering for employers, health plans and other payers. Key Investor TakeawaysWeight Watchers (NASDAQ:WW) is integrating Google Health Enterprise technology into select Weight Watchers for Business client programs.
Commentary: Universal public health insurance is the answer
Employer-sponsored health insurance is rapidly deteriorating. In 2027, premiums are expected to see their largest single-year increase in two decades, jumping 11% and closing in on a nearly five-fold increase
Lush's six-month parental leave exposes the retail benefits gap
A state top-up model funded full pay for frontline workers, and it offers a blueprint for retail employer clients
ERIC, Business Groups Back AT&T in 401(k) Forfeiture Appeal
The groups’ amicus brief argues that AT&T’s use of forfeitures to reduce future employer contributions is consistent with ERISA and regulatory guidance.
Paid parental leave clears health board, heads for Allegheny County Council
Allegheny County's Board of Health approved a scaled-back paid parental leave bill, cutting leave to 12 weeks and exempting employers with 15 or fewer workers.
How Taxing AI Could Save Jobs
Advice for policymakers and large employers, who will be enlisted in minimizing job losses.
SMH Ranked No. 1 in Florida Among Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals
Sept. 28, 2026 – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) has once again been recognized among the nation’s best places to work in healthcare, ranking No. 17 on Forbes’ 2026 list of “America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals,” the highest ranked healthcare employer in the state of Florida. The recognition marks the second consecutive year […]
Inside Forbes’ Inaugural List Of 25 Black-Owned Business To Watch
For the first time in U.S. history, the number of Black-owned employer businesses topped 200,000 firms. These are the 25 companies that standout.
Health Tech Keeps Choosing Violence
Last week was an absolute dump of health tech litigation mayhem, with enough new filings to make my wife seriously question my bedtime reading. Here’s what’s inside: OpenEvidence v. Doximity: Doximity didn’t wait for the deadline. It wants OpenEvidence’s case thrown out entirely, and its motion adds some awkward details about vanished Slack data and borrowed NPIs. Plus, Epic v. Apple offers a look at what a normal discovery fight looks like. Texas v. Epic: Epic took another shot at the State’s antitrust pleadings, asking the court to make Texas spell out how its employment restrictions harm competition and why Texas law reaches a Wisconsin company’s noncompetes. Veeva v. Epic: The two Wisconsin law professors finally weighed in on whether a would-be employer can challenge someone else’s noncompete. Audacious Inquiry v. CRISP: Our sleepy patent case just evolved into a much more interesting form, with CRISP firing back with attempted monopolization and information blocking counterclaims. Cognizant v. Infosys: After weeks of emails and phone calls, I finally have Judge Starr’s sealed ruling on Infosys’s antitrust counterclaims. Some survived, offering clues about where the Epic (and other system of record) antitrust cases stand their best chance OpenEvidence v. Doximity
Chronic disease is an economic problem as well as a health crisis
Employers and health systems can work together to improve prevention, screening and treatment – but sustained funding and better coordination are essential.
In California, IVF insurance haves and have-nots
Landmark legislation requiring large employers to cover infertility treatments went into effect at the beginning of the year. It’s changed lives and boosted clinic caseloads – and left the uninsured scrambling to afford care.
Lakewood Ranch bookkeeper sentenced for fraud, larceny
A Manatee County woman caused a loss of more than $46,000 to her employer in Sarasota County, according to court documents.
IowaWORKS offers weekly hiring opportunities for Des Moines employers
IowaWORKS is offering employers an opportunity to connect with job seekers through its Grab-A-Job Tuesdays weekly hiring series at the Des Moines IowaWORKS office at 200 Army Post Road. The program allows employers to promote open positions, conduct on-the-spot interviews and screenings, and collect candidate information for follow-up. According to IowaWORKS, 50 to 150 job…
Business & Education Partner at Unique CTE Center - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.—A career and technical education Center in Klamath County is bringing high school students, healthcare employers and higher education together to build the region’s future workforce. It started with a simple idea, get students into the workforce and give Klamath Falls-area employers a chance to prepare them. The Career and Technical Education Regional […]
Summer Real Madrid departure finally finds new club
Former Real Madrid star David Alaba has this week found for himself a new employer, to prolong his playing days. This comes amid confirmation of the Austrian preparing to pen terms with Serie A side U...
UT Health San Antonio ranks on Forbes list of ‘America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals 2026’
UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center and health system of The University of Texas at San Antonio, has been named one of America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals 2026 by Forbes, earning a place among just 250 healthcare organizations nationwide recognized for creating strong workplace environments for healthcare professionals. The national recognition, […]
Workday Launches Total Benefits, Bringing Health, Wealth, and Wellbeing Support Together in One Place
New AI Solution Makes it Simpler for Employers to Manage Benefits and Easier for Employees to Actually Use Them Workday Also Introduces Benefits Guidance Through Self-Service Agent to Help...
New Jersey Community Colleges Offer Hands-On Data Science, AI Training
As employers seek workers who can effectively use data science and artificial intelligence, the County College of Morris and Camden County College are working to train students quickly and strategically.
Employer health costs are set to jump the most since 2003—and even health care workers are struggling to afford care
Nurses, doctors and medical practices are making difficult tradeoffs as premiums rise and health benefits consume more of household budgets.
NJ Business Council for Childcare Launches to Strengthen NJ’s Workforce and Economy
ATLANTIC CITY — Today, the New Jersey Business Council for Childcare officially launched, bringing together some of the state’s most influential business organizations and employers to address childcare as a critical workforce and economic issue. Advised by Moms First, the statewide, business-led coalition includes the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), New Jersey Chamber of[...]
Meet America’s Best Employers For Healthcare Professionals 2026
The top healthcare organizations ranked on this list offer clinicians and other hospital employees training, workplace support, flexibility and excellent benefits.
My Husband Wants Us to Hire His Brother for Our Business. Uh, What He Did to His Last Employer Landed Him in Jail.
We can't risk this.
Interactive: Workers brace for biggest health insurance cost spike since 2003
Employers expect the biggest rise in health insurance costs in decades, increasing pressure on wages, premiums and benefits for workers.
Gateway Business Health Coalition Partners with Rezilient Health to Bring Tech-Enabled, More Affordable Primary Care to Its Members
/PRNewswire/ -- The Gateway Business Health Coalition (Gateway BHC), representing approximately 70 employers nationwide, including Fortune 500 companies and...
Gateway Business Health Coalition Partners with Rezilient Health to Bring Tech-Enabled, More Affordable Primary Care to Its Members
/PRNewswire/ -- The Gateway Business Health Coalition (Gateway BHC), representing approximately 70 employers nationwide, including Fortune 500 companies and...
Look up 100 top-paid employees at nonprofit health systems in the Philadelphia region in 2024
Employee pay and benefits typically account for more than half of health system expenses and have contributed to rising healthcare costs for employers and governments.
Bellevue Chamber to host Career Fair & Business Expo
The free event will connect job seekers, students, military families, and career changers with employers and workforce resources across the Omaha Metro
Florida’s Minimum Wage is Rising Sept 30: Is Your Business Ready to Comply?
Florida employers need to prepare for a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour on September 30. And if you have tipped employees, you’ll need to pay them at least $11.98. This is the last of the annual increases voters approved in 2020. We’ll tell you what’s changing and the steps you should consider taking now to comply.
Ask The Expert: A modernized health plan: Supporting cost management and the employee experience
See how health care cost transparency can help employees compare care and costs while giving employers a different approach to managing benefits.
Allina quietly started, then stopped, saving appointment slots for privately insured patients
Minneapolis-based nonprofit health care provider was courting people with employer coverage. Critics worried about the impact for low-income patients.
Angle Health Raises $600M to Grow Employer Health Benefits Platform
Angle Health's funding round was led by Vitruvian Partners, with participation from Town Hall Ventures, Blumberg Capital, Portage Ventures, PruVen Capital and Y Combinator.
Bernie Sanders is right about the four-day workweek – but wrong about how to get there
The senator proposed a federal overtime rule mandate, but incentives can better spur employers to reshape the workweek
Thompson Health Hosting Job Fair in Canandaigua
Thompson Health, Ontario County's largest employer, holds a job fair September 30 in Canandaigua. Learn about openings and interview on-site for positions.
Employer Health Costs Are Projected to Jump 8.2%. At 65, Moving to Medicare Means Her HSA Contributions Have to Stop
Switching from an employer plan to Medicare looks straightforward until a single enrollment rule quietly wipes out months of tax-free contributions, and most workers only discover it after the damage is done.
Employer Health Costs Are Projected to Jump 8.2%. At 65, Moving to Medicare Means Her HSA Contributions Have to Stop
Switching from an employer plan to Medicare looks straightforward until a single enrollment rule quietly wipes out months of tax-free contributions, and most workers only discover it after the damage is done.
Oscar Health (OSCR) Bets On Lucy As CEO Calls Time On Employer Coverage
Oscar Health (NYSE:OSCR) introduced its AI-driven Lucy Healthcare Marketplace, a digital hub for carriers, brokers, and consumers. The company presented Lucy as part of a shift toward individual coverage options, including support for ICHRA-based benefit designs. Chief executive Mario Schlosser said the traditional employer-sponsored health insurance structure is ending, pointing to alternative coverage models. Oscar Health’s Lucy Healthcare Marketplace launch and public push toward...
When your boss is your landlord: UVM Health Network job cuts put employee housing at risk
Employer-sponsored housing was pitched as a lifeline to draw workers to Vermont, but following hundreds of job cuts at the UVM Health Network, some healthcare workers say losing their job now means potentially losing their home, too.
Oscar Health CEO Mark Bertolini: We're recreating the ACA model for employers
Mark Bertolini, Oscar Health CEO, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss plans to expand its individual and small business coverage to 400-600 new counties by 2029.
Novant Health drives $4.33B in regional economic impact, study says
Novant Health Coastal Region generates an annual overall economic impact of $4.33 billion in the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), according to a new report. Commissioned by Novant Health and conducted by Mouhcine Guettabi, associate professor of economics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the area’s regional economist, the report evaluates population growth in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties and whether the area’s healthcare infrastructure is positioned to meet the region’s demand. According to the study, while healthcare employment has kept pace with population growth in New Hanover and Pender counties, it has not kept up with the rapid population growth in Brunswick County, which is skewed toward an older population. “It points very clearly to Brunswick County being the bottleneck, or being the place where investment is most needed,” Guettabi said to the Business Journal Friday, “because the growth is the fastest, the composition of the growth is older (adults) and demand for healthcare is much higher for the subpopulation.” The Novant Health Coastal Region employs 8,295 full-time equivalent workers, according to the report, and is the region’s largest employer. Overall, through direct, indirect and induced impacts, the Novant Health Coastal Region supports 19,573 jobs, the report said. Using data collected from internal payroll, financial and capital reports, the report estimates that Novant Health Coastal Region pays approximately $1.15 billion in total compensation to its employees. According to the study, the provider’s annual operating expenditures, or direct economic impact, total $2.36 billion. That direct impact ripples through the regional economy through spending at its suppliers, or indirect impact, and household spending by staff and its suppliers’ workers, or induced impact. The report estimates the Novant Health Coastal Region’s indirect economic impact is $786 million, reflecting the multiplying effect of the provider’s operating expenses on expenditures like medical supplies, facilities, food, IT and professional services. Because 86.9% of Novant Health Coastal Region employees live within the tri-county region, the report estimates that wages paid by Novant circulate into the regional economy, creating an induced economic impact of $1.17 billion. “That money just doesn’t go into thin air,” Guettabi said of the wages paid to Novant Health Coastal Region employees. “Some of that money is being re-spent, and therefore it’s supporting grocery stores, hiring, restaurants and bars, and there are a lot of other companies or organizations whose employment, whose activity partially depends on that.” The combination of direct ($2.36 billion), indirect ($786 million), and induced ($1.17 billion) impacts totals an estimated $4.33 billion, according to the report. A study commissioned by Novant Health in 2024 and conducted by FTI Consulting’s Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy found that Novant Health generated nearly $2 billion of direct impact, with $628 million in indirect impact and $857 million in induced impact. Healthcare investments in the pipeline for Brunswick County Additionally, the study found that while healthcare employment has kept pace with population growth in New Hanover and Pender counties, it lags in Brunswick County. “Once you go below the metro level and you decompose the three counties that make up the Wilmington Metro,” Guettabi said, “it becomes fairly clear that Brunswick is the standout. And not only that, but clearly the growth there is fully domestic migration and largely retiree-driven migrants.” Using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on per-capita healthcare spending among age groups, Guettabi estimates that adults aged 65 and older demand 2.44 times the healthcare of working-age adults. “The share of the population in Brunswick County that’s over the age of 65 is 33%,” Guettabi said, “which is so much higher than the average share of people over the age of 65 within the state or within the country.” The report emphasizes that Brunswick County is the “strongest candidate” for new healthcare investment, adding that patient discharge records show Brunswick residents rely heavily on facilities in New Hanover County for inpatient care. “Investments in Brunswick County would not only meet the demand for those residents, but it would also relieve pressure for New Hanover County residents,” Guettabi said. Laurie Whalin, president of the Novant Health Coastal Region, told the Business Journal Friday that the provider plans to expand services at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, in addition to other investments in the area. In April, the state granted conditional approval to both Novant Health and Columbus Regional Healthcare System to build new hospitals, just miles apart, on either side of the Columbus County and Brunswick County borders. Columbus Regional’s $214 million 30-bed hospital would be located at the former Acme-Delco Middle School in Delco, according to the application. The project’s approved timetable has construction slated to finish in May 2029, with the hospital open for service by October 2029. The Whiteville-based provider, which Atrium Health manages, broke ground on an Advanced Care facility in December 2025 and operates four specialty clinics in Leland. Meanwhile, Novant Health’s proposed $251 million 20-bed hospital would be built just miles from Columbus Regional’s proposed hospital, near the Compass Pointe community in Leland. The provider estimates the hospital will open by 2030. State officials also approved Novant Health in March to build a freestanding emergency department in Carolina Shores, near U.S. 17. The project is estimated to cost $24 million, according to the application, and will operate under the Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center license. Additionally, Novant Health’s 16,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center is slated to open in Leland by year’s end, officials said.
Employer Health Costs Surge: What it Means for EHTH, CNC & UNH
eHealth says surging 2027 health costs are pushing smaller employers toward ICHRAs, potentially expanding individual coverage demand.
Business and unions clash over how to fix UK’s youth jobs shortage
TUC calls for £1bn expansion of jobs guarantee while employers push for tax cuts
Midland Business Alliance wins IEDC economic development award
The organization received a silver award for its Talentx video series, which helps local employers recruit talent by showcasing Midland County's community value proposition.
Ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson joins Palantir
Lord Watson praises his new employers but says there are "legitimate questions" about big tech firms that "require answers".
Employers aren't giving up on computer science grads. Here's what they want instead
The market for CS students isn't collapsing. It's evolving.
Health care costs are rising. Here's how employers are adapting.
As insurance premiums rise, Ohioans' options for health care coverage are dwindling. An employer-sponsored model is getting more popular as a result.
Outcome of suit against Department of Labor could boost skimpy employer health plans
A long-running lawsuit challenging what it means to be an employee and therefore have access to work-based health plans is being closely watched by health policy analysts.
'The era of employer health insurance is ending': Oscar Health CEO explains
Oscar Health (OSCR) CEO Mark Bertolini sits down with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to discuss the state of the healthcare industry, highlighting why employer-sponsored health insurance might not last forever.
Where Mount Pleasant business meets community: Chamber expo returns for 16th year
More than 1,000 people are expected to walk through the doors of the Omar Shrine Convention Center Thursday for an event designed to connect the Mount Pleasant community with local businesses, employers and resources.
Small employers weigh dropping group coverage ahead of 2027
A new eHealth survey finds 73% of small to mid-sized employers are reconsidering traditional health benefits
MJ Companies expands Phoenix benefits team with ThreeFlow veteran
The hire brings placement technology experience to MJ's consulting capabilities as employer demand for advisory grows
Alliant expands benefits team with M&A and workforce expertise
Two hires signal what employers now demand from their benefits advisers
Allegheny County’s Board of Health weighs reshaped parental leave proposal
Allegheny County officials unveiled a scaled-back version of a paid parental leave bill that has generated fervent public discussion since its introduction in May. The revised proposal trims the parental leave period from 18 to 12 weeks and would apply to employers with 15 or more eligible full or part-time employees.
Puget Sound Leaders Launch New Economic Partnership
Led by nonprofit Challenge Seattle, the partnership aims to strengthen the region’s ability to retain employers, attract investment, and create jobs.
Outcome of suit against Department of Labor could boost skimpy employer health plans
The Trump administration has been sharply focused on expanding access to alternative coverage.
Is Volunteering Good for Your Health? New Research From The Cigna Group Finds a Strong Connection
New research from The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) finds that volunteering is associated with better health, stronger workplace engagement, and greater connection to community. According to the company's fifth annual Vitality in America report, people who volunteer are nearly twice as likely to report high vitality, a measure of how healthy, connected, and capable a person feels. The research also found that employees who participate in employer-supported volunteer activities are significantly more li
Lyric Health Launches AI-Powered Healthcare Operating System to Turn Fragmented Data into Coordinated Care
Lyric Health today announced the launch of its Healthcare Operating System, a platform built to help self-funded employers, third-party administrators (TPAs) and healthcare innovators turn fragmented healthcare data into coordinated member action.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
New Georgia program lets bosses give workers stipends for health insurance
Georgia employers can now bypass traditional group health insurance plans and instead give workers a fixed monthly cash allowance to purchase their own individual coverage on the state exchange.
Thatch Reaches $1B Valuation as Employers Hand Workers Health Benefits Budgets
Thatch raised $108 million at a $1 billion valuation to continue growing its health benefits platform, the company said in a Tuesday (Sept. 15) press
Business Owners Undervalue Creative Thinking As A Leadership Skill
Employers say 39% of job skills will change by 2030, and creative thinking is what they will miss most. Artist Neha Shah on leading when the playbook stops working.
Puget Sound business leaders warn of Washington's slipping economy
Some of the largest employers in Washington say the warning signs of an economic decline are clear, and are now urging city and county leaders to pivot quickly.
You’re going to pay more for health insurance in 2027 as employers see costs jumping for the fifth straight year
Health insurance costs are rising so fast they could eat into workers’ paychecks next year, according to a survey of 1,800 U.S. employers
TSTC’s online Business Management program incorporating AI into some of its accounting classes
Texas State Technical College: Employers want graduates equipped with technical capabilities alongside critical thinking.
What Do Scientists Want from AI?
Scientists are already using AI in the lab – but many are doing so without the safeguards their employers may assume are in place
How employers can help curb some of the biggest drivers of healthcare costs
Employers can lower healthcare costs by expanding preventive care, improving primary care access and helping employees manage chronic conditions.
Ivy Business Week returns with career prep, service and events
Iowa State students will have opportunities to connect with business professionals, explore careers and build professional skills during this year’s Business Week from Monday to Friday. The annual celebration, hosted by the Ivy College of Business, lets students join an employer panel, receive resume and professional introduction feedback, learn about graduate programs and take part...
Elevance leads UBS health benefits survey as employers brace for higher costs
UBS benefits survey ranks Elevance top insurer as 77% of employers rebid 2027 plans; GLP-1 costs surge and big PBMs stay strong—read now.
Business Owners Undervalue Creative Thinking As A Leadership Skill
Employers say 40% of job skills change within five years, and creative thinking is one they can least afford to lose. It is a leadership muscle, not artistic talent.
Lisa Jarvis: Healthcare costs have small businesses in an impossible bind
The healthcare affordability crisis is crushing everyone, but it has become downright calamitous for small businesses. Survey after survey after survey shows that employers expect healthcare costs to rise nearly
Finger Lakes Health Receives National, New York Workplace Honors
Finger Lakes Health has again been honored as a top employer in the nation and New York. President and CEO Dr. Jose Acevedo noted, "Our employees are at the ...