Job fair for veterans hosted in City of Milwaukee



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- There are nearly a half million veterans living in our state and many of them are unemployed. To change that, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Goodwill hosted a job fair for vets and their spouses on Thursday, January 16th.

Andre Lowe just returned from overseas last month, and said he is quickly finding out how tough finding a job can be.

“It`s a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be, but hopefully I`ll get a job soon,” said Lowe.

The "Hiring Our Heroes" job fair gives him and hundreds of other local vets the opportunity to do just that. More than 70 employers took part in it, each with multiple positions open. The more than 200 veterans that showed up were hoping one of those employers had a place for them to use their skills.

“The skill sets they've learned in the military are so very important for here. The leadership skills, the project management skills the team building,” said Cheryl Lightholder, with Goodwill.

Along with being connected to potential employers, the veterans also being taught how to highlight skills they learned in the military through several workshops.

While vets are the focus, it's also an opportunity for their spouses to find a job.

“That's amazing. It really shows they care for the whole aspect of the military. Because it’s not just the people who serve, it’s the people who stand behind them as well,” said Mary Lowe, a military wife.

20 percent of veterans nationwide are under the age of 25 and unemployed. 15 percent of military spouses are unemployed.