SACRAMENTO – This Veterans Day, when America traditionally celebrates these often unsung heroes, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) is calling on employers to honor their sacrifices by hiring veterans as valued members of their workforces.
The EDD has launched a special Honor a Hero, Hire a VetSM website page featuring employers In Their Own Words – describing the many reasons why hiring a vet is good for business including the enhanced skills, experience, teamwork, and leadership qualities they bring with them. Also learn about the challenges veterans face in translating their military experience, and the services and assistance they’ve found to help guide them to success.
“One of the best ways to honor our veterans and all they have done to create the stability, security and opportunity for California and America’s businesses to flourish is to hire them. It benefits not only the veteran but the employer too,” said EDD Director Patrick W. Henning Jr. “Each year, California welcomes back tens of thousands of men and women as they return to civilian life – many of them veterans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have served our country with courage and skill, but often find the transition to civilian occupations difficult. The EDD team is dedicated to pairing employers looking for outstanding candidates with veterans looking for good, solid jobs and career opportunities.”
To help employers connect with services designed to assist them, the Honor a Hero, Hire a VetSM website page also includes helpful resources including more information about the local America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM (AJCC) located throughout the state. These offices offer EDD veterans representatives who specialize in assisting veterans with employment and training opportunities and who stand ready to help employers in finding and preparing veterans for the jobs available. The centers also offer job fairs, employer recruitments, and other events and resources specifically designed for both veterans and employers. The staff available compliment the online resources offered by EDD, including:
- CalJOBS: EDD’s recently redesigned online resource for both job seekers and employers provides employment and labor information for California. Veterans can easily search for jobs anywhere in the state, access career resources, and find information on education and training programs. Employers can quickly find qualified candidates for their job openings. More than 160,000 veterans have already posted résumés on CalJOBS.
- The California Veterans Occupational Resource Zone: combines occupational tools with local labor market information and job vacancy listings. This page provides much greater access to up-to-date information for veterans seeking civilian employment. It also provides links to projections of employment, occupations in demand, and maps containing veterans’ population and labor force information by county.
- Veterans’ Services webpage: offers a detailed listing of EDD and non-EDD services and resources including The Occupational Crosswalk which helps veterans find civilian occupations that require skills similar to their military jobs by linking the Military Occupation Code to the Standard Occupational Classification.
California is home to 1.8 million military veterans, 8.4 percent of the nation’s veteran population. These women and men have faithfully served their country in all branches of the military, from pre-World War II to present worldwide operations.
With an improving state economy, the jobless rate among California’s veterans has been dropping. However, young veterans throughout the country have had a higher rate of unemployment than non-veterans, reflecting challenges in translating their military skills into recognized civilian needs:
- The unemployment rate for California veterans age 20-24 was 14.5 percent compared to 13.0 percent for non-veterans (June 2014).
- The unemployment rate for California veterans age 25-34 was 12.9 percent compared to 8.0 percent for non-veterans (June 2014).
By working together this Veterans Day, the EDD and our local partners can assist employers in providing solid civilian work opportunities for veterans who have sacrificed much in protection of our country and the freedoms we enjoy. And at the same time, provide employers with loyal and valuable assets to their workforce.
EDD Employer and Veteran Resources
- America’s Job Center of California Office Locator
Local offices have a veteran representative who is available to work with you.
- CalJOBSSM User Guide for Employers (PDF)
CalJOBSSM is the premier site for California businesses seeking qualified job candidates. The website allows employers to post open positions and search the database for potential employees. The CalJOBSSM User Guide for Employers will facilitate business representatives navigate the site.
- CalJOBSSM
California’s internet system for linking employer job listings and job seeker résumés. - Job Fairs and Workshops
Locate job fairs and workshops for veterans in your area. - Veterans are a Priority
The EDD puts veterans first by offering job referrals, no fee employment services, a dedicated field veterans program staff, special assistance programs, and more. - California Veterans Occupational Resource Zone
The Occupational Resource Zone helps California veterans find their place in the civilian workforce by using this tool to search careers and occupations. - Services for Veterans
The EDD’s services and resources available to veterans, their families, as well as employers. - Unemployment Insurance (UI)
The UI program provides workers, who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, with weekly UI payments. Former service personnel may be eligible for UI benefits.
Additional Employer Resources to Hire Veterans
- Employer ToolKit for Hiring Veterans
From America’s Heroes At Work, a step-by-step toolkit for employers. - USERRA Information
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) from the U.S. Department of Labor. - Strengthening Military Families
U.S. Department of Labor’s resources to help military families.
File Photo – Delta Veterans Group Job Fair
