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The unemployment rate for our nation’s veterans continues to be higher than those who have not served in the military.  It especially true for Post 9/11 veterans.  However, according to a Department of Labor report, the veteran unemployment rates have dropped more than a percentage point – from 6.6% to 5.3% – in 2014. The news was even better for Post 9/11 vets, who saw a 1.8% decrease.

Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go.  The unemployment rate for Post 9/11 veterans is still significantly higher than non-veterans. In response to the Department of Labor report, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez stressed that employers recognize the value of veterans as employees, and that the Department of Labor continues to be committed to assisting veterans “secure a job that helps them support their families.”

A 2012 study confirmed Secretary Perez’ statement that there are many companies that recognize the inherent business value in hiring veterans.  And the unemployment rates show that there is clearly a pool of veterans still looking to be hired.

So where is the disconnect?

According to the study, employers shared a number of reasons for not hiring veterans.  The most common reason cited is the inability of veterans to translate the value of their military skills to the civilian workforce, and nearly a quarter of employers stated that they simply can’t find qualified vets.

The three pillars of Veterans Forward job seeker assistance – career coaching, developing job search skills, and connecting to employers – is perfectly suited to overcome these obstacles for our veteran clients and partner employers.  Our Career Coaches work closely with candidates to align their military skills and experience to needs in the civilian workforce, while our business development team maintains working relationships with companies looking to hire veterans.  We teach our veteran clients how to fish, then stock the pond with interested employers, making it easier for them to “get a bite.”

In future posts, I’ll talk more about the three-pillared approach of the Veterans Forward program, and show why our veteran clients have stated they are more confident in the job search and have found jobs faster with our help. Stay tuned!

To learn more about Veterans Forward, please visit our website here, or call 855-994-8300.