The majority of modern workers head to traditional, full-time jobs, but experts warn that the future of work will primarily involve freelancing and temporary jobs. Gene Zaino of MBO Partners recently surveyed independent workers and predicted that if existing trends continue, solo workers' ranks will swell to some 70 million strong by 2020. That's over half of all employees.

The U.S. Postal Service has been hurting for years, and last week representatives announced its new consolidation strategy. The organization will consolidate or close 223 mail processing centers -- a move that eliminates some 35,000 full-time and non-career positions.

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum will go head to head in today's primary races, held in Michigan and Arizona. Romney is clearly leading the polls in Arizona, so much of the focus today will be on Michigan, where it looks like Romney and Santorum may be tied.

By Lydia Dishman, PayScale.com

Do you know these people? There's the guy who belches or pick his nose seated next to accounts payable. The saleswoman whose phone calls to clients/family/significant others can be heard down the hall in the break room, with the door closed. The admin who believes her cloud of perfume helps the air quality in reception.

Should the U.S. ditch the standard 40-hour working week in favor of a 21-hour workweek? A report out of the New Economics Foundation argues that such a move would help the environment, boost the economy and promote social justice.

The Republican primaries in Arizona and Michigan take place on February 28th. In trying to win over the primary voters, the candidates will need to address economic concerns of each state's residents. Here at PayScale, we researched the economic "health indicators" of each state by examining wage trends, labor demand and unemployment.

What did we find? It can be summed up in two statements:

1. Don't just blame Obama -- The economic health indicators in both Michigan and Arizona have shown significant improvement in recent quarters and thus spending time criticizing President Obama's economic policies may not impress local populations.
2. Promote a vision -- A better approach would be to highlight recent successes and present a plan for increasing them at a better and faster rate. Namely, the candidates should focus on how they would continue to bring jobs to the area and improve local economies.

Continue reading after the break if you want more details on the economic health indicators we researched.

Social media site Pinterest has exploded in popularity over the past six months, winning favor with everyone from brides-to-be and casual users to crafters, bloggers, cooks, designers and event planners. But can Pinterest be used for job hunting?

Read on for a few pros and cons of using Pinterest as a part of your job search.

If you've been thinking of starting a business, you may want to headquarter it in Houston. The largest city in Texas recently topped Kiplinger's list of great cities for starting a business. Read on for five reasons Houston is the next big city for small businesses.

NASCAR officials were forced to postpone the Daytona 500 due to rain. This is the first time in its 54 year history that the season opening race has been delayed. The Daytona 500 will see another first this year - a primetime spot racing under the lights, as the race is set to start tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET. 

Last night, the 84th Annual Academy Awards® brought some of Hollywood's hottest names out to play. "The Artist" took the Best Picture award, while Meryl Streep and Jean Dujardin were named Best Actress and Best Actor for their respective performances in "The Iron Lady" and "The Artist." Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony, and even the red carpet had a drama-filled moment as Sacha Baron Cohen played a prank on Ryan Seacrest.

The 2012 Oscars® ceremony clocked in at just over three hours, and we couldn't resist crunching the numbers on what you could have earned in that time had you been at work instead of watching the awards on TV.

What can your employer predict about your job performance by looking at your Facebook profile? A lot, according to a joint study by researchers at Auburn University, Northern Illinois University and the University of Evansville.

When I think of Cincinnati, the first thing that pops into my head is the theme song from the classic sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" (Just me? Possibly, I'm dating myself here.) But, did you know Cincinnati, Ohio was also named a top US travel destination this year by Lonely Planet? It was also on Forbes' list of "America's Most Affordable Cities." Perhaps this midwest city deserves a closer look. Here's a peek at the typical salaries for popular Cincinnati jobs. And, it sounds like those salaries might go a bit further in Cincinnati than elsewhere.

If you work at an office, you likely appreciate the janitor who stops by long after you've left for the day and cleans up after you and your coworkers. But have you ever wondered just how much they make per hour for doing all the dirty work? Below is the national average hourly rate for janitors and cleaners.

With most of us spending at least 40 hours per week at work, it may feel like you see your co-workers more than your family or friends. And, what happens when you see someone all the time? They start to get on your nerves. So, it's only natural to occasionally get annoyed by the people you work with. (They probably think you're annoying, too.) But, what stand out as the most annoying work habits?

When you think Memphis, Elvis is probably the first thing that comes to mind, but there's far more to this southern city than being a destination for loyal Elvis fans. If you're thinking of making a move to Memphis, Tennssee, do your research and see if the jobs and salaries available are in line with your expectations. You can even see how much you should make in Memphis compared to your current city with our Cost of Living Calculator.

Are you a skilled seamstress on the move? If you're looking for a change of scenery, consider moving to Houston, Texas. A seamstress in this city reports receiving the highest median hourly rate compared to other cities across the U.S.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Whether you are a college student trying to figure out what direction to take or considering a career change, having a strategy can help you maximize your potential. If you think beyond the initial paycheck, there are many jobs that offer considerable career growth in a fairly short time frame. You can move up in the world and make more money at a faster than average pace, if you have the right career path in place.

Here's a look at five hot career paths where pay can grow quickly over the course of five years, all with a strong job outlook through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Hawaii may be a popular vacation destination, but while you're snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing, residents of Honolulu, Hawaii are usually busy working. Below is the median salary in Honolulu, Hawaii for popular jobs.

By Kelly Clay, PayScale.com

With SXSW around the corner, you may be making travel plans for this media, music and film festival. But what is it really like to live in Austin? Below are the median salaries for several popular jobs in this sprawling city.

My first job after college was actually as a journalist in Omaha, Nebraska at the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. While print journalism may not be on the rise, plenty of other careers are. And, Omaha turned out to be a surprisingly cool city. Considering a move to Omaha? Below are the median salaries for several popular jobs in the city.