Illinois Working to Get Jobs for Veterans

New Report Reveals High National Unemployment Among Vets

Blagojevich Administration Hosts Forum to Educate Veterans on Employment Services and Opportunities, Benefits, State Programs

[March 29, 2008]  CHICAGO -- As a government report created for the federal Veterans Affairs Department reveals that the percentage of veterans not in the labor force rose to 23 percent in 2005 from 10 percent in 2000, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced that Illinois is working to use veterans' skill to help them get jobs. As soldiers return from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Illinois has increased efforts to help veterans find employment in Illinois by encouraging employers to hire veterans first, offering Illinois veterans priority in career service and referral to job training opportunities, and providing transitional services to disabled veterans. In 2007 over 13,000 veterans obtained employment after receiving staff-assisted services from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The Blagojevich administration hosted a forum at Prairie State Community College in Chicago Heights on Wednesday to educate veterans about available resources and to discuss a variety of issues that affect Illinois veterans. Topics included employment services and opportunities, federal and state benefits, homelessness, housing opportunities, financial education, the new Illinois Warrior Assistance Program addressing mental health issues, and other state programs available to Illinois veterans.

"Here in Illinois, we are doing everything we can to ensure that when our service members come home, they have access to quality jobs and receive the benefits they've rightfully earned. I want to encourage businesses to hire our veterans and not only benefit from the quality of employee they receive, but also the money they will save on their income taxes," said Blagojevich.

According to Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, a new government report, which hadn't been publicly released, highlights some of the challenges facing veterans seeking stable employment in the civilian world. According to the newspaper, the report concluded, "Young veterans 'face career challenges when transitioning from the military service to the civilian work force' and suffer from higher unemployment than their civilian peers."

Throughout the governor's administration, Illinois has been working to combat unemployment for veterans in a number of ways:

• The local veterans employment representative and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program specialist work with employers and host employer workshops to actively promote the benefit of hiring veterans throughout the state.

• The state's 73 veteran service officers advise veterans of all their state and federal rights and benefits. These officers also partner with service organizations to reach more veterans and make presentations at veterans halls and gatherings throughout the state.

• Illinois hosts about 24 employer seminars a year throughout Illinois in which veterans' skills and federal and state tax credits are introduced to everyone in attendance.

• Illinois provides transition assistance services to over 2,000 servicemen and women who are separating from the military at two military installations: Great Lakes Naval Base and Scott Air Force Base.

• Illinois was recognized for leading the nation for having more job fairs for veterans than any other state. Illinois hosted 10 job fair sites throughout Illinois during the month of November, with over 370 employers and approximately 1,700 job-seekers attending.

• The state offers an employment workshop geared specifically to veterans every month in virtually all 41 state employment offices.

• Blagojevich designated November 2007 as Hire a Vet Month.

Blagojevich is also reminding employers about the new veteran's tax credit. Beginning this filing season, Illinois employers can earn tax credits for hiring veterans who have recently been on active duty overseas. Employers can earn the new veteran's tax credit of 5 percent of total wages paid, up to a maximum of $600 annually, for wages paid to each veteran hired after Jan. 1, 2007. The veteran must work at least 185 days during the tax year for the employer to qualify. The credit is available for veterans who were members of the armed forces, the Reserves or the Illinois National Guard on active duty in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The veteran's tax credit can be claimed by employers on 2007 tax returns filed in 2008.

The Blagojevich administration has positive feedback from veterans they have helped employ around the state. Last November IDES hosted a statewide job fair and recently received a letter from an Illinois veteran who wrote: "Thank you so much for putting together the job fair back in November. I got an offer from Dynegy and I am now working there. Thank you so much for the help and putting in a good word for me. I am really liking the job."

For more information on Illinois programs for employment opportunities for veterans, visit www.ides.state.il.us/vets. For more information about the veteran's tax credit, go to www.tax.illinois.gov or call the Illinois Department of Revenue's toll-free assistance line at 1-800-732-8866. For more information on state programs and initiatives for veterans, visit www.state.il.us/agency/dva or call 1-800-437-9824.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]