Despite a constantly rising unemployment rate - the U.S.Department of Labor last reported it at 8.1 percent in February,compared with 6.2 percent in September of last year - somecompanies are bucking the trend and adding new staff.

New York Life Insurance Company recruited a record number offinancial representatives in 2008. The company increased staff with3,534 appointments, an increase of 8.4 percent, in the UnitedStates.

Over half of the agents recruited in 2008 were either women orminorities. The number of women hired increased 9 percent from2007, representing 32 percent of all hires. Minorities made up 35percent of new hires in 2008. In addition, 10 percent of new hireswere employed as a result of on-campus recruiting campaigns.

"Our strong growth in agent diversity is a reflection of NewYork Life's efforts to mirror the communities in which we live andwork and the opportunity presented by these growing demographics,"said Mark Pfaff, executive vice president of New York Life, in acompany press release.

Colonial Life is also experiencing record recruiting and newbusiness sales. In 2008, the company increased sales staff by 28percent, accounting for nearly 60 percent of new business. In theearly part of this year, Colonial Life increased its sales force byanother 37 percent, taking 75 percent growth in new businesssales.

"With high unemployment rates, we expected to see more peopleinterested in independent-contractor sales positions," Dan Hughey,Colonial Life's senior vice president of national sales said in apress release. "But what has been so positive and exciting isseeing the numbers of new people coming from the financial servicesindustry and other industries who are generating such great salesresults. It's a testament to the fact that businesses and theiremployees need voluntary benefits now more than ever."