State's work force grows

Pennsylvania employers added 2,600 workers last month as declines in manufacturing and business services were offset by gains in transportation, utilities, trade, and education and health services, the state Department of Labor and Industry said. The September to October growth in nonfarm jobs to 5,724,800 was statistically unchanged but, for the first nine months of the year, is up 58,900, or 1 percent, from the year-ago period. A separate count of residential employment and the state's labor force put October's jobless rate at 4.6 percent, down from 4.9 percent in September.

Ground moves at Underground

Andy Seidel, the former chief executive officer of United States Filter Corp., and two other former executives at the company have been tapped to lead Underground Solutions. Roop Jain will become executive vice president and chief operating officer and Steve Stanczak will become executive vice president and general counsel. Mark Smith, Underground Solutions' president and CEO, will become chairman. The moves are contingent upon approval from a preferred shareholder.

Deadline on payday refunds

The state Department of Banking is urging consumers who are entitled to a refund from a payday lender to apply before the Dec. 21 deadline. Ace Pays Inc. in September agreed to make refunds to customers to settle charges that it charged illegally high interest rates and marketed loans as "rebates." The firm, now defunct, admitted no wrongdoing. Consumers may contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 to obtain a complaint form.

Also in business ...

The Institute for Supply Management-Pittsburgh's Regional Economic Index, a monthly snapshot of local business activity, eked out another gain last month, to 52.09 from September's 52.06, led by improvement in the local manufacturing sector, including higher production, orders and prices. ... L.B. Foster Co. said its construction products unit has been awarded contracts valued at about $3 million to supply piling to contractors for use on levee restoration projects in New Orleans ... Community Bank, Washington, Pa., declared a dividend of 21 cents a share and a special dividend of 4 cents a share, payable Dec. 21 to shareholders of record Dec. 8.