Job search help for returning military veterans

It's tough out there for anyone looking for a job these days, but the recession has been especially hard on those men and women who have returned after serving their country in the U.S. Armed Forces.

According to figures released from the office of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), unemployment rates for veterans aged 18 to 24 now stands at 14.1 percent, compared to the national average of 9.4 percent. Three out of four veterans returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan have had difficulty finding a new job, says Gillibrand's office.

Locally, returning vets in western Washington may get a little relief this week with two job fairs aimed specifically at finding jobs for military personnel who are trying to transition back into civilian life.

Wed., June 10 - Tomorrow, Pierce County Vets will hold a Job Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the AMVETS Post #1 in Tacoma. As part of the national Hire Vets First campaign, the event will focus not only on veterans returning from overseas but also their families and the general public. Dozens of Puget Sound-area employers are expected to be in attendance with hundreds of job opportunities, so be sure to bring plenty of resumes. Also attending will be Veteran Services Officers who can answer questions about VA claims. See the Pierce County Vets Web site or call 800-441-6373 for more information.

Sat., June 13 - Farther south, in Vancouver, Wash., the Hire Vets First campaign is teaming with WorkSource Vancouver with another Hire-A-Vet Event that will include more than 30 employers from a wide range of industries. Doors will open at the WorkSource office at 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver from 10 to 11 a.m. for veterans only, then expanding to the general public after 11 a.m. The event is also being sponsored by the American Legion, VFW and many other military service organizations. For more information, contact Rich Axtell via phone at 360-735-4982 or via e-mail at raxtell@esd.wa.gov.

To all the Hire Ground readers who are currently in the military or are returning to civilian life, thank you for your service and best of luck with your searches this week. Let's all give a helping hand to those who have helped defend our freedoms.

Writer and editor Randy Woods has filled out more job applications than he can count -- so you don't have to. Email him at hireground@nwjobs.com.