Jobs Report Highlights Urgency for Veterans Jobs Corps as New Veteran Unemployment Spikes to 12.7%

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 1st, 2012
CONTACT: Michelle McCarthy, (212) 982-9699 or michelle@iava.org

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On June 6th, IAVA to Host Smart Jobs Fair in Chicago with U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and Spouses

NEW YORK—Today, as the Labor Department reported that new veteran unemployment climbed to 12.7 percent in May, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, applauded the President for unveiling several new pilot programs to help service members and veterans translate their military occupations and training into civilian careers. As part of the announcement, the President renewed calls for the creation of a Veterans Jobs Corps, a core priority that IAVA outlined at Storm the Hill and our top employment priority in 2012 to help new veterans find quality and meaningful employment in the civilian workforce.

“Finding a job in this economy is hard, and if you’re an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran it’s even harder. The abysmal May jobs report reinforces that America can and must do more so no veteran returns home to an unemployment check. So many of our veterans want a new mission, to continue to serve, when they return. But we hear from our members that one of their greatest challenges is translating their military skills to the civilian world and getting the licensing that they need. The new partnerships announced today complemented by the President’s renewed push for a Veterans Jobs Corps will get to the core of these challenges. These initiatives will help thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans prepare for civilian careers while they’re still in uniform, so they can easily translate their military credentials into meaningful jobs across high-speed industries when they get home,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.

“As a country, we must continue attacking the veteran unemployment crisis from multiple fronts, across both the public and private sectors. Over 263,000 new veterans were out of work in May. But it’s a manageable crisis if we work together to support veteran hiring and training initiatives from Washington to Wall Street to Main Street. It’s also absolutely critical that both the President and Congress work together to implement the VOW to Hire Heroes Act as well as step up to protect the New GI Bill—the single best tool new veterans have against unemployment in this tough economy. IAVA looks forward to working with the White House, Congress and all our partners in the private sector on these initiatives to ensure thousands more veterans are career-ready after combat and can continue their service to our country on the homefront.”

In 2012, IAVA is tackling veterans’ unemployment on every front, in both the public and private sectors.  On June 6th, IAVA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host our second Smart Jobs Fair in Chicago for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their spouses throughout the Midwest. As part of IAVA and the Chamber’s 2011 Clinton Global Initiative-America commitment, this series of innovative hiring fairs, which includes upcoming fairs in New York City, Atlanta and Dallas, will connect veterans with critical transition resources, like resume reviews, interview skills training and more to ease their transition from combat to career. More than 50 employers including JPMorgan Chase, MillerCoors, Prudential and GameStop are expected to participate in the Chicago Smart Job Fair with jobs available for veterans of all ranks and levels of experience. The fair is open press and will be held in Chicago on Wednesday, June 6th at the Hilton Chicago at 720 South Michigan Ave from 9:00AM- 1:00PM. Veterans can sign up for the free Smart Job Fair and learn more about participating employers here.

At the start of 2012, IAVA Member Veterans surveyed were facing a 17 percent unemployment rate nationally. From Storm the Hill to IAVA’s “Welcome Heroes” initiative with JCPenney and other partners, IAVA programs have helped hundreds of veterans get back to work and find unemployment support after their service. To read IAVA’s 2012 Policy Agenda and learn more these initiatives to tackle veterans’ unemployment across the public and private sectors, click here.

If you are a member of the media who wishes to arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff, Deputy Policy Director Tom Tarantino or another IAVA Member Veteran, please contact Michelle McCarthy at (212) 982-9699 or michelle@iava.org.


Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org) is the country’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has more than 200,000 Member Veterans and civilian supporters nationwide.