Unemployment high for veterans
Preston Phillips, 65, of Brooklyn, speaks with Lisa Smith of the Web MD Talent AcquisitionTeam at a at a Veteran's Job Fair hosted by the Mayor's Office of Veterans affairs on board the USS Intrepid Air and Space museum. (March 28, 2012) Credit: Craig Ruttle
Each year, the government releases a report on the employment situation of the nation's veterans. The data in this year's report, released late last month, will come as no surprise to older veterans looking for work.
The unemployment rate for veterans ages 55-64 was 7.7 percent. By comparison, nonveterans in that age group had an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent. The jobless rate was also higher among veterans older than 65 compared to nonveterans in that age group. Those who served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam era comprise about half the veteran population, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
But many older Long Islanders, whether they are veterans or have never served in the military, are affected by the most troubling statistic in the report. Veterans 24 years old and younger had an unemployment rate of 30.2 percent, nearly double the rate for nonveterans in that age group. These young veterans are, of course, the children and grandchildren of boomers and seniors.
Several government agencies and companies offer aid to vets, whether it's a boomer or a senior who lost his or her job in the recession or a young person looking to start a career. Locally, Nassau and Suffolk have Veterans Service Agencies that offer advice on all matters of importance to those who served, including guidance on job-related matters.
On Thursday, Recruit Military, a private company that runs job fairs throughout the nation, is holding a Veteran Opportunity, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan. Admission is free. A Recruit Military spokesman said companies with job opportunities for young veterans and for those with years of civilian work experience will attend the expo. The New Yorker Hotel is across the street from Penn Station on Eighth Avenue. For more information, go to recruitmilitary.com.
Next month, Nassau County and Winthrop-University Hospital are sponsoring a Jobs and Support Services Fair for veterans of all ages. Several local and national companies will have representatives to collect resumés. In addition, employment experts will give tips on job-search skills and resumé writing. For newly discharged veterans, there will be advice on the G.I. Bill and other entitlements. The free fair will be at Nassau Community College May 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 516-572-6565.
