Good News, Bad News: Carrier Edition

Not really sure what this means, but these two stories just popped onto the radar.

First, the good news:

"Humana Inc. is increasing its expansion at a distribution facility in West Chester with another 300 employees...Humana currently has more than 100 employees at its pharmacy distribution facility (there), but is expecting to increase that number to more than 330 in the next few months. The Louisville, Ky-based company expects to grow employees to 400 by 2010."

[ed: West Chester is a suburb of Cincinnati, OH]

That's good news for the Queen City area, as job growth in this economy can only be viewed as "a good thing."

For our friends in The Nutmeg State, however, are about to see the other side of the equation:

"Aetna Inc. is laying off 1,000 employees companywide, including 375 in Connecticut -- about 5 percent of its work force here -- to protect profits in a declining economy...The group health and life insurer has [had?] about 7,850 employees in Connecticut."

Aetna's chairman and CEO, Ronald A. Williams, claims that "(t)hese actions will reduce our operating costs and allow us to manage through the economic downturn from a position of strength."

Not much one can add to that.

[Hat Tip: Rick Byrne]