For many men and women of the U.S. military, the fight continues long after they return from the front lines. The transition to civilian life is anything but smooth for veterans. Despite skills developed in the military that should translate to civilian employment, veterans find the American dream they fought for looks nothing like the nightmare they have trying to find a job.
Nine percent of the 2.8 million Americans who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were unemployed in 2013. That year, a staggering 21.4 percent of veterans between the ages of 18 and 24 were jobless.
Military veterans return home with battle-tested technical skills as well as logistical know-how and leadership experience that should make them attractive jobcandidates. Many veterans, especially young ones, have received training in multiple disciplines relevant to the private sector, but struggle to translate the value of their military training and experience.
Last month, numbers show the U.S. manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in three years, yet employers are struggling to find workers. At the same time, according to a 2013 White House report, between 240,000 and 360,000 service members are separating from the military every year and looking for civilian employment.
Because today’s manufacturing is marked by advanced technologies that require high-tech skills, integrating talented returning veterans into the manufacturing workforce has become a top industry priority to benefit veterans, the manufacturing sector and the U.S. economy.
In Atlanta and beyond, people are working to help returning veterans seize opportunities. American Jobs for American Heroes — a nonprofit coalition with the National Guard to help unemployed Guard members, veterans and spouses find skilled jobs in the private sector — works with Georgia Guard leadership to develop a new management program that partners employment teams with non-profit experts to help Guard members seeking civilian jobs, particularly in manufacturing.
Georgia is home to more than 774,000 veterans and ranks high among places with good veteran employment numbers. This week, Atlanta will host the 2014 FABTECH exposition and conference, one of the largest manufacturing shows in North America.
FABTECH, a three-day event, will open on Veterans Day; it will feature 1,400 exhibiting companies and attract 27,000 attendees to the Georgia World Congress Center. FABTECH will feature special programs on employing veterans and fundraising efforts to help organizations dedicated to providing training opportunities and connecting veterans with advanced manufacturing jobs.
Connecting veterans with manufacturing jobs is a good thing to do for the future of U.S. manufacturing and the right thing to do for our veterans.
Steve Nowlan is president of the Atlanta-based Center for America and campaign director for American Jobs for American Heroes.
