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"Paychecks for Patriots" Offers Unemployed Veterans Opportunity

tn.gov

The Tennessee Labor Department is hosting it’s 4th “Paychecks for Patriots” job fair Thursday. The statewide effort involves 70 plus employers across the state, offering full time opportunities for unemployed veterans. Melinda Kelsey is with the Department of Labor, she said close to 1,400 veterans attended last year.

“Employers across the country and especially in this state and other states are recognizing the value that our veterans bring and the quality in the training that they have acquired while serving our country.” Kelsey said.

Veterans should arrive with a resume and ready to interview. Locations for the fair are set up at 9  stations across the state. The annual unemployment rate for Tennessee was 4.5% in 2014.  The unemployment rate for veterans in Kentucky averaged 5.6% in 2014 compared to 7.3% in 2013.  The unemployment rate for Kentucky veterans is comparable to the U.S. average.  The national numbers were 5.3% in 2014 and 6.6% in 2013.

Kentucky Career Center Economist and Deputy Executive Director Manoj Shanker said the veterans’ unemployment picture is better than the general population in Kentucky.

“For example, in 2014 the unemployment rate for all Kentuckians averaged 6.5% vs. 5.6% for veterans.  The primary reason is that many of the veterans have acquired skills while serving in the armed forces that have proved useful in civilian life.” Shankar said.

Melinda Kelsey says Florida and Georgia have adopted Tennessee's “Paychecks for Patriots” program and hopes other states will do the same.

Note.  The data provided was estimated by the Office of Employment and Training (OET), Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development.  It is based on the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly sample survey of households that provides data on employment and unemployment.

Nicole Erwin is a Murray native and started working at WKMS during her time at Murray State University as a Psychology undergraduate student. Nicole left her job as a PTL dispatcher to join the newsroom after she was hired by former News Director Bryan Bartlett. Since, Nicole has completed a Masters in Sustainable Development from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia where she lived for 2 1/2 years.
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