Recruiting Veterans to Manufacturing

As Memorial Day approaches, our nation remembers the more than 1.3 million Americans in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the Revolutionary War. Moreover, May is Military Appreciation Month.

Ohio manufacturers continue to look for best practices to attract veterans to manufacturing careers. Successful recruiting strategies include:

• Posting openings on veterans’ job boards. (Check out this site administered by the U.S. Department of Labor to match open jobs with military occupation codes. Also, at Ohio Means Jobs, employers can identify as “military friendly.”)
• Contact a representative at the Ohio Department of Veterans Services and let them know you’re looking to hire a veteran. (Note that Gov. Mike DeWine recently launched a new resource page for service members and their families.)
• Get involved with The Manufacturing Institute’s “Heroes MAKE America” initiative. Register now for a June 6 overview of the program.
• Check out the U.S. Chamber’s “Hiring Our Heroes” events and jobs board.
• Send recruiters and hiring managers to job fairs for veterans, such as the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Career Summit on June 22.
• Utilize G.I. Bill-approved apprenticeship programs.

Employers can help veterans transition to civilian life with online resources from the U.S. Department of Defense and Ohio Means Jobs. 5/25/2022