Approximately 60 Central Illinois Employers on Hand Looking for Talented, Qualified Job Candidates
PEORIA , IL (07/03/2012)(readMedia)-- Approximately 60 central Illinois employers will be on hand at the Peoria Civic Center, 201 S.W. Jefferson Ave., July 12 for an employment fair aimed at veterans and military service members looking for a job. The Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee, in conjunction with Hero2Hired, Illinois Department of Employment Security, U.S. Chamber of Commerce/ Hiring Our Heroes, and other sponsors and organizations have combined their efforts to bring employers with open positions together with veterans, National Guard, Reserve and spouses in Peoria and surrounding areas.
"We are very happy to be able to work with organizations and programs like Hero2Hired, Hiring Our Heroes, and IDES to offer this unique and much-needed employment fair opportunity to our veterans and service members here in central Illinois," said Dr. Michael Ayers, Ph.D., State Committee Chair for Illinois ESGR. "We recognize that unemployment among this important segment of our population is a growing concern not just here in Illinois but across the country."
The free Peoria employment fair will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veteran and military job seekers should go to the Hiring Our Heroes Web site at https://HOH.Greatjob.net by July 5 to sign up online. For more information or registration questions, contact Hiring Our Heroes at: hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.
"The unemployment rate among our veterans, Guardsmen and Reservists is a concern," said Lt. Col. Tim Franklin, Illinois ESGR Program Director. "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall unemployment rate in 2011 for veterans who served on active duty in since September 2001 was 12.1 percent. For those who were current or past members of the Reserve or National Guard the rate was 9.1 percent. We have a responsibility help these men and women who raise their hand and volunteer to put on the uniform to do our nation's bidding here at home and around the world."
The Peoria employment fair offers veterans, Guard and Reserve members and their spouses an opportunity to connect with central Illinois Employers with positions available. In addition to employers, veteran service organizations and providers will be at the fair. Walk-in veterans and spouses can attend the day of the event with proper identification, but pre-registration is encouraged through Hiring Our Heroes.
