Governor Proclaims Veterans Employment Week in Tennessee
Monday, November 08, 2010 | 02:44am
Employers Benefit from Tax Credits and Experience When Hiring Veterans
NASHVILLE – As Veterans’ Day approaches, Gov. Phil Bredesen reminds Tennessee employers that veterans are an enormous resource for employment needs.
Proclaiming November 7-12, 2010, as Veterans Employment Week, Governor Bredesen said, “Along with their experience gained in military service, veterans bring to the workplace the benefits of stability, discipline, and a strong work ethic. I hope employers will give priority to the assets veterans offer as employees when they’re filling new or existing jobs.”
“As we annually salute veterans, we recognize the contributions and sacrifices Tennessee’s 530,000-veteran population has made to this country,” said Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley. “Our Career Centers have special staffs who help veterans exclusively in transitioning from military to civilian work.”
Besides job referral, Tennessee Career Centers provide services to veterans that include employment-related testing, training information, skills assessment, and job search workshops – all at a single convenient location. Last year almost 39,000 veterans received services in Tennessee Career Centers, and 18,600 were referred to employment opportunities.
Hiring a veteran has the additional advantage to employers of saving money by using the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). There are several WOTC target groups that impact veterans directly. The most recent category of WOTC was added just last year and states that employers who hire a veteran can qualify for a maximum $2,400 tax credit if the veteran was discharged or released from active duty at any time during the past five years and received unemployment insurance for at least four weeks during the past year. For details on tax credits for hiring veterans contact the department’s WOTC Coordinator Roger Littlejohn at roger.littlejohn@tn.gov or (615) 253-6664.
To find a Tennessee Career Center near you, go to http://www.tennessee.gov/labor-wfd/cc/cccounty.htm. All Career Centers are listed by county or city.
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