Department of Labor overhauls website to help vets find jobs

Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) announced on Friday that the Department of Labor (DoL) has updated its website to be consistent with legislation that he co-authored to help returning veterans find jobs.

Meehan and Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.) led the push to add a webpage to the DoL’s website that helps veterans find local jobs that match their military experience and allows employers to post jobs for veterans.

“Our veterans returning home from service overseas have a broad array of knowledge and expertise,” Meehan said. “But until now, a confusing patchwork of government services and websites has made it a challenge for these veterans to connect with employers looking to hire. This new one-stop shop will make it easier for our veterans to translate what they learned serving our country into marketable skills and a steady job….”

Meehan said he was grateful that Labor Secretary Thomas Perez undertook the effort to connect veterans with local jobs.

Toomey said the changes will streamline veterans’ jobs search process.

“As a member of the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus, I want veterans to find good jobs during a time of sluggish economic recovery,” Toomey said. “The courageous men and women who serve in our armed forces deserve to return home to a steady job, a paycheck and a promising future. This website improvement will assist our veterans in connecting with employers who need workers with the skills that come from their military service.”

The unemployment rate for veterans who have served active duty since September 2001 was nine percent in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.