Work One to host sessions on veterans, financial incentives
June 19, 2016 According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 50 percent of post-9/11 vets experience periods of unemployment. Their unemployment period averages 22 weeks, longer than the civilian average. Veterans over the age of 55 had higher unemployment numbers for longer periods. Work One, Indiana’s workforce development system, is doing everything in its power to improve t ...   Read More »
June 19, 2016
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 50 percent of post-9/11 vets experience periods of unemployment. Their unemployment period averages 22 weeks, longer than the civilian average. Veterans over the age of 55 had higher unemployment numbers for longer periods.
Work One, Indiana’s workforce development system, is doing everything in its power to improve those numbers during the Times Diversity Business Symposium and Career Fair.
Allison Bertl, the Work One business service manager, and Barb Grimsgard, the communications manager for the Center of Workforce Innovations, have sessions scheduled on day one of the Business Symposium.
“We are going to hold two different sessions during the Symposium,” Grimsgard said. “The first one is designed to help hiring managers to translate military experience into civilian skill sets.”
“The vernacular of the military is very unique,” Bertl explained. “For example, what exactly is a Combat Engineer? What did he or she do in the military? How did they do it? And how do you translate those skills into civilian skills for local employers?”
There are specific techniques that Work One uses to help translate military skills into civilian mode. During the session, Bertl and her team will review a process that HR personnel can use to get a better idea of the type of work best suited for a particular veteran.
“Veterans also have a very strong set of what we call soft skills,” Bertl said. “For example, vets have a very strong sense of commitment. That’s very important in today’s market. They also have leadership skills, and teamwork skills. Again, those are in high demand.”
Veterans also possess skills acquired through training received during service.
“Many veterans have HazMat training,” Bertl said. “That is a very desirable skill for firefighters, safety engineers, and industrial personnel. And that’s just one example. We cover a variety of topics that help local employers make a fit between the veteran and the open position.”
The second session will focus on cost-saving workforce and hiring incentives.
For instance, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. WOTC joins other workforce programs that incentivize workplace diversity and facilitate access to good jobs for American workers.
“This is a federal program that is implemented by the state,” said Grimsgard. “Local employers can receive tax credits for hiring from one of the target groups. It’s a win-win for both sides.”
“There are economic development programs that fund OTJ (on-the-job) training,” said Bertl. “Individuals can be trained in a specific job, usually for a 90-day period. Companies can receive financial incentives when they conduct such training programs.”
There are also Work Experience (WEX) Programs. Companies that are willing to take a job seeker under their wings as a Work Experience candidate can qualify for incentives to help fund the program.
Work One will review such programs, explain which ones are available in Indiana, and walk through various methods of implementation.
According to the National Center for Veteran Analysis and Statistics, more than 475,000 veterans live in Indiana. Over 335,000 of them are wartime veterans. Work One and the Center of Workforce Innovations are working hard to engage hiring managers and HR personnel in placing those veterans in career fields that fit their skill sets. Their efforts will be front and center at the 9th Annual Diversity Business Symposium and Career Fair on June 22-23 at the Radisson in Merrillville.
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