Thanks to ambitious bills and programs such as the Joining Forces initiative, the unemployment rate among veterans has started to come down. However, there is still a considerable amount of work to be done, and in an effort to help, retail giant Wal-Mart recently vowed to hire at least 100,000 veterans, reports The Associated Press.
The program officially kicks off on Memorial Day, and will be aimed at hiring servicemembers who have separated from active duty in the last 12 months. The focus on the most recent group of vets is fitting, especially since those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have an unemployment rate higher than the general population. The latest jobs report found the jobless rate among post-9/11 vets stands at about 10.8 percent.
"Let's be clear – hiring a veteran can be one of the best decisions any of us can make," Bill Simon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart's U.S. business, said in prepared remarks, according to the AP. "Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They're quick learners, and they're team players. These are leaders with discipline, training, and a passion for service."
Troops who have recently separated from service and are looking for a job may want to check out AFBA's Career Center, which connects employers and recruiters with talented prospective employees.