DOL VETS Newsletter - May 2016

I truly believe workers perform best when they have the training and skills needed for the work they do. In fact, I’m proof of it. I got my start as an apprentice in a paper mill in my home state, Maine. Through the program I learned valuable trade and soft skills that I’ve carried with me from the mill to The Hill. So when a Veteran — who comes to the civilian workforce already equipped with a variety of skills — seeks opportunities to grow their job skills, one of the best, most effective ways to do so is through a Registered Apprenticeship. The Labor Department’s ApprenticeshipUSA program offers workers opportunities to earn a salary while learning new skills necessary to succeed in high-demand careers. The program helps employers recruit and develop a highly skilled workforce while providing opportunities for tax credits and employee tuition benefits in some states.

Bottom line: Apprenticeship programs are just good business. That’s why VETS is so excited for the newly launched $90 million ApprenticeshipUSA initiative that will offer:

• $60 million to support state strategies to expand apprenticeship, including funding for regional industry partnerships and innovative strategies that diversify apprenticeship locally;

• $30 million to catalyze industry partnerships in fast-growing and high-tech industries, to support organizations focused on increasing diversity, and to launch national efforts to make it easier for employers to start and for workers to find apprenticeship opportunities.

These funds will offer our Veterans increased access to on-the-job training and benefits like:

• A paycheck: From day one, Apprenticeship graduates will earn a paycheck guaranteed to increase over time as they learn new skills. A Veteran’s paycheck may be supplemented by their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.

• Working for Top Companies: Many of America’s top companies have Registered Apprenticeships, with a network of over 150,000 employers in more than 1,000 occupations.

• A Career: The Apprenticeship graduate will be on their way to a successful long-term career with a competitive salary and little or no educational debt.

• National Industry Certification: Apprenticeship graduates are certified and can use their certification anywhere in the U.S.

I’m grateful to my former colleagues on The Hill for the bipartisan support they have offered to build this program and offer our Veterans more opportunities to succeed. Investing in our Veterans is the right thing to do.

Mike Michaud,
Assistant Secretary
@MikeHMichaud

#ByTheNumbers: Veteran Unemployment Remains Lower Than Overall Rate at 3.9%

In April, the veteran unemployment rate decreased 4.7% in March to 3.9%, once again maintaining a lower level than the overall unemployment rate. This continues a 24-month trend with a single exception, when veteran unemployment was 0.1% higher than overall unemployment in December 2015. Additionally, the unemployment rate for veterans 18-24 years of age decreased from 15.8% in April 2015 to 6.3%.

Launching Veterans.Gov: The Veterans Employment Resources You Need

It’s here! The virtual one-stop portal for veterans’ employment resources is here! We’ve been sharing the great news online (@USDOL), with news outlets, and even in person at local conferences. We’re sharing far and wide with one goal: get employment resources to the veterans who need them. Now we need your help. Check out Veterans.gov and share the resources.

Here are some of the resources you’ll find in just a few clicks on Veterans.gov:

For Job Seekers

• Connect with one-on-one assistance in the nearly 2,500 American Job Centers located conveniently in communities around the country.

• Explore online job listings.

• Search career paths by industry, by similarity to military careers, or by keyword.

• Locate approved local training programs, colleges and universities.

• Find federal jobs as well as government career programs in sectors like agriculture, transportation, energy/utilities and homeland security.

• Learn how to start a business.

For Employers

• Connect with our regional employer outreach specialists, who can share local resources for meeting your unique hiring needs.

• Post position descriptions and openings.

• Get a free hiring toolkit, “America’s Heroes at Work,” and other resources.

• Make a public commitment to hire veterans.

A Smart First Step for Veterans

After graduating from West Point 26 years ago, Brett Jenkinson didn’t get the job he really wanted: civil engineer. Instead, the Army handed him a rifle and a pack, and told him he’d be doing something else.

When Brett left the military about a year ago, he went through the mandatory Transition GPS (Goal, Plans, Success) curriculum designed to prepare transitioning service members and their spouses for civilian life. In no time at all, he was hired as — at long last! — a civil engineer.

“I couldn’t be happier and I owe most of my success re-entering the job market to your program,” Brett shared with us recently. “Thanks again and keep it up; our transitioning vets deserve it!”

While we at the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service take a lot of pride in the overall trends for veterans’ employment (the unemployment rate for veterans has been lower than the overall unemployment rate for all but one of the past 24 months), we know that as long as any one veteran hasn’t found a meaningful civilian career, we still have work to do. Read more

ICYMI: State of Women Veterans Roundtable Now On YouTube

The State of Women Veterans Roundtable, which was hosted by the DC Mayor’s Office in March is now available for viewing on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ogE5UjnxS0o

While this was a local event, the majority of the information provided is applicable at the national level. You can to learn more about some of the things happening in the women veteran space, including both Federal services and non-profit efforts. There are three panels: All Things VA, Boots 2 Business, and Pearls to Politics.

You can also learn more about the Women Veteran Program through the short, FREE online webinar found here: Get more info

ASVET Michaud Visits Fort Bragg, NC

How can you help? If you know a veteran who is seeking employment, point them to an American Job Center (www.servicelocator.org) or share this "How-To" video to help them find their path.

Together, we will continue build employment opportunities for our veterans, and honor their service by allowing them to continue service in the career they choose.

VETS prepares America’s veterans, service members and their spouses, for meaningful careers, provides them with employment resources and expertise, protects their employment rights and promotes their employment opportunities.

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