High unemployment among veterans continues to be an issue but Door County's veterans service officer says several new programs have been put into place to try to address the problem.
Scott McFarlane -- who's back on the job after a stint on active duty -- says the federal government has created tax credits for employers who hire veterans, including the Returning Heroes tax credit and the Wounded Warrior tax credit, which provides up to $9,600 to companies that hire veterans with service connected disabilities.
McFarlane says one reason veterans unemployment is so high is because the World War II generation is passing on so there are "less and less veterans out there that understand what the veteran is going through" in seeking employment...
McFarlane says the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in a high number of younger veterans who are out of work, saying the unemployment rate for 18 to 25-year-old veterans is above 30 percent.
McFarlane says veterans can bring a lot of translatable skills to a potential employer, even if they're not directly related to the position.
"Even if it's a combat arms veteran and it's a young man who, say, was on patrol or humping up and down hills with a big rucksack on in Afghanistan and it may not directly translate into what they have to offer, the veteran will bring discipline, they'll bring a stick-to-itiveness, they'll show up for work on time, and that alone is a good start to a successful career in any of our local companies," says McFarlane.
McFarlane says those who would like more information about some of the programs available for both veterans and employers should contact his office at 920-746-2225.
