Fighting For Jobs For Our Veterans

by Gary Toebben

While the unemployment rate in California and the U.S. is falling slowly, the unemployment rate among military veterans is still an embarrassment to our nation. Most veterans have a strong work ethic and skills that are easily transferable to a business setting. They are trained in problem solving and working in teams. They do not walk away from a challenging assignment, and along with their spouses they have demonstrated strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

To help match our talented military veterans with companies who are hiring, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is co-sponsoring with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a "Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair" on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. We encourage any business in the Los Angeles area that is hiring to set up a display at the Job Fair. There is no fee for a company or a veteran/spouse to participate.   

Nationwide, 1 million veterans are jobless and one of every four military spouses is without work.  Younger veterans aged 18-24 face a staggering 30 percent unemployment rate. Members of the National Guard and Reserve have an unemployment rate of 14 percent nationally. With the drawdown in Afghanistan, roughly 1 million more men and women in uniform and their families are expected to leave active duty over the next five years.  

Our nation and our community should view this imminent drawdown as an opportunity, like we did following World War II when millions of veterans re-entered the workforce. That massive infusion of talent helped the U.S. economy thrive for generations.  

Other co-sponsors of the “Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair” include the Got Your 6 Campaign, the California Employment Development Department, the California Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service and NBC News. These same groups joined the U.S. Chamber and the L.A. Area Chamber to sponsor the first successful "Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair" last summer at Sony Studios.  

On Aug. 28 your company will have the chance to tap into one of the greatest pools of human resources in our nation. Sign up to participate now. You’ll be glad you did. 

And that's The Business Perspective.