Cuts in defense spending are prompting early retirement for some military personnel, but they still need income. Summit County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director George Baker says that while some employers actively recruit veterans, others look right past them.
"The biggest difficulty that we're finding is actually trying to get employers to understand how to equate military service with civilian workplace qualifications," said Baker.
Baker points to computer skills as a prime example, saying that soldiers are now trained to use computers to find the enemy, for example, and that skill can translate into something usable in an office setting.
The unemployment rate among veterans is higher than that of other segments of the population.
Baker says that even though some companies don't see the connection, others actively recruit veterans. The VSC held a job fair last week that attracted 34 employers.
