For two years, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans have experienced unemployment numbers much higher than the national average for non-veterans, ages 18-24. Currently, the trend is over 20 percent while the national average for non-veterans is 17 percent.
Concerns over the impacts of service, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and extended tours for Reserve and Guard troops, are cited as possible causes for the high numbers. For that reason, many veterans no longer include periods of military service on their resumes. They take four years or more of valuable experience and throw it into the trash.
Despite current aid programs geared to help the problem, advocates claim more can be done to counter the negative connotations. To them, the answer lies within the further development of awareness programs for employers. In addition, they claim more effort by the military should be placed on developing licensing and skills that translate into the civilian workplace more easily.
Conservative estimates claim it costs corporations between $3,000 to $25,000 per new hire. It makes sense that employers would be concerned about hidden problems like PTSD or future deployments. Perhaps the government could do more by way of increased tax incentives for hiring these veterans beyond what is currently in place.
Meanwhile, the government has pushed for more veterans to take advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which paid out over $7 billion by the end of last year. However, with the current stigma veterans have due to their service experiences, graduating veterans may still have problems when entering the civilian labor market. So long as the government wants war, it will continue to make veterans with disorders and disabilities, both visible and invisible. This places the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much at a disadvantage: include your military service knowing it could hurt you or leave it off your resume and have a 4-year unexplainable void. Regardless, it is a problem our country can and should do more to address.
For tips and tricks relating to retraining, go to www.disabledveterans.org.
Enter text right here!it has been that way for years ,, employers do not want to hear vets for reasons state above. compamies need veterns to work for them why must vets think on there feet , and if chanled right can make a company able to deal with modern bus. hire a vet but beacuse pople are afraid of vets . empolyeers look if we can take orders and function will in war zone >>>>> you should think we can be there for any bus.
There are many reasons why companies don't hire Vets. When I got out of the military, the economy wasn't ging well. At every job interview I went to I ran into the same problem, employers wanted "current employment references". And none would take "The USA Navy" as a reference. They wanted to call someone on the phone. And giving Lt. so and so, or Chief X, or Petty Officer Y, on board some ship at sea, that they can't call on the phone is like leaving that segment blank. And none were interested in even looking at copies of performance reviews from the military in lieu of a reference. And tto make things even worse high turnover rates mean that if you don't get a job right away, there is no one left that knows you even if they try to call.
Yeah, I agree with you. But it is the same for recent college grads as well. What counts whne getting a job is who you know not what you know. That is why all the job seeker advice givers talk about "networking". In other words if you don't know someone who is hiring you won't find or get a job. I see this a lot where I work. The most incompetant people I work with all got the job because they knew someone. And whenever they screw up they have someone covering for them or looking to blame someone, anyone else or everyone else for the problem.
I dont put the 12 years active duty time on applications anymore nor do i list that i am currently in the reserves. with over 20+ years working on military equipment i cant find a job anymore being in the reserves. when i do find work the first time you cant go to work due to drill you get canned because you lied on your employment application by not listing still being in the reserves
I have had this very same issue as well. After being medically retired from active duty Air Force I have run into road block after road block trying to even get an interview, and I live in a huge military comminity. It's like onece they see you have been medically retired, they don't want to even bother looking any further at you. I'm qualified to work any security or law enforcement job due to my military security police training, but yet can't get hired to work security anywhere. Where is the help? Oh yeah, in the Nation's Capital getting paid big bucks while we are unemployed trying to find anything just so we can survive. Some thing better has got to be done to us hired. Veterans preference? Yeah right…
Oh I am right there with you guys. I m 37 disabled Vet with a clearance and training perfect for any type of security work with all my awards,and evaluations, and training I have received through the Army I m not good enough to work in fast food, or any of the so called military friendly work places. They all use us to increase their image you know support the troops, offer discounts,and talk the talk just dont ask for a job. We are not asking for handouts we are asking for work to support our wives,and kids.They have no idea of what its like to fight and live in another country then come home only to get kicked when your already down trying to rebuild your life for the better.
That is why when I see another brother I thank them for their service because if not for them it would be the same they fought for us so that we would have it better than they did.
I am a retired Navy Chief who contnued my education and becoame an RN. It is really hurtful when the VA won't even hire a vet with credentials. I think it is all who you know, not what you know
You all have to understand the big picture here. a certain political party want our current Comm. In Chief to fail at everything he's attempting to clean up. In doing so, these business owners, many of that same political party, wont provide jobs even when they have positions that need to be filled. Then, in most Vets mind, they'll say, 'he didn't do anything to help get us jobs!" Thus, you'll vote for that political party. Not realizing that they got us into this mess in the first place. Take heed, we're all being flem flammed. The key to it all, DON'T GIVE UP!!! I'm 46, Disabled Vet, Desert Storm.
The CnC hasnt delivered anything but to his buddies in the powerful unions, talk about backroom deals, how transparent was the healthcare bill. The people he has appointed are very left leaning, if you look up their bios you can check for yourselves. I'm a vet and feel my generation Vietnam, have been forgotten, in my day when you came home you had to change at the airport to avoid harrassment. I've been unemployed for 2 yrs despite having a college education, the unemployment is probably really double counting people who have dropped off the rolls, didnt qualify, or have given up. I;m not sure what else can be done for those who are uemployed, 80% of small businesses are afraid of drastic increases to their operating costs because of enforced benefits, which will increase their costs by 30% or so. Why are the unions exempted ? and the state of Nevada, and Palosi's district? Don't believe it, look it up for your self. Is this fair treatment? I appreciate all the recent vets have done, the multiple tours, and all they've sacrificed, let's not let this be you in 30 yrs.
Check out the usajobs site
and are the first ones to tr to get government benefits for hiring a vet or a bailout