Blumenthal says veterans deserve a better shot at jobs

Hartford - U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Thursday it is "shameful" that many of Connecticut's servicemen and women are having difficulty finding jobs when they return home from overseas.

During a news conference at the State Armory in Hartford, Blumenthal said the 15.5 percent unemployment rate in the state for post-9/11 military veterans is far too high in comparison to Connecticut's overall unemployment rate of 8.4 percent. The veterans figure was cited in a Congressional Joint Economic Committee report and based on 2010 data.

"It is shameful and unacceptable that our veterans, who have served and sacrificed to preserve our freedoms, come home to a state and a country that essentially denies them jobs at twice the rate of (everyone else)," Blumenthal said.

With more servicemen and reservists returning to Connecticut in 2012, the senator called on the state's employers to make a "New Year's resolution" to hire more veterans.

"We have a challenge for all employers, and that is welcome them home with jobs," said Blumenthal, whose son, Matthew, a Marine Corps reservist, is serving in Afghanistan.

The senator said he plans to introduce legislation in the new year for better enforcement of federal laws that bar discrimination against veterans in hiring decisions.

Some employers might be hesitant to hire a recent combat veteran because of concerns about redeployment or the applicability of military training in the workforce, Blumenthal said. But the reality, he added, is that veterans have many usable skills and strong work habits.

Congress recently approved an overhaul of the post-9/11 GI Bill that allows veterans to use the federal benefit for vocational courses and on-the-job training.

On Jan. 1 the state will enact a $900-per-month tax credit for businesses that hire a new employee who served in the armed forces. The credit is $500 per month for hiring a non-veteran.

Linda Schwartz, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, joined the senator in asking that businesses at least grant veterans a face-to-face interview in the hiring process.

j.reindl@theday.com