Politics
Michelle Obama announces plans to hire vets, families
Brad Cooper, executive director of Joining Forces, said the effort to encourage hiring of veterans and spouses has exceeded expectations. Companies are adjusting their goals upward after meeting initial hiring targets and finding that military families provide skilled and loyal workers.
Some of the jobs for veterans represent net job growth, while others are a result of turnover, he said.
Unemployment is particularly high among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Labor Department estimates that 12.1 percent of veterans who served in the military since the Sept. 11 attacks were unemployed in October. That compares with the national rate of 9 percent.
Among veterans under the age of 24, the rate was closer to 22 percent.
The latest hiring commitments include plans by the International Franchise Association, which represents 1,100 franchises, to hire 80,000 veterans and spouses by 2014. That number includes 5,000 wounded warriors.
Steve Caldeira, president of the franchise association, said the structured nature of franchises and their need for employees committed to “operational excellence” make them a good fit for those trained in the military. Examples of franchises that have made hiring pledges include the UPS Store, Arby’s, TSS Photography, FASTSIGNS, Mr. Rooter, TeamLogic and Valpak.
Mrs. Obama also announced that the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, which began last summer and is made up of nearly 100 companies and organizations, had committed to hire 20,000 military spouses.
The organization includes companies such as Microsoft Corp. and Home Depot, and franchises such as Data Doctors and Guidant Financial.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
