About 100,000 new construction jobs for veterans will be made over the next five years, First Lady Michelle Obama and Labor Sec Tom Perez announced earlier this month in front of a packed audience of veterans and veteran advocates in Washington DC. A hundred companies have stepped up to hire these men and women, with an average $20/hour wages and benefits.
According to Perez, the construction industry added 48,000 jobs in January and 1.5 million more projected through 2022. “This industry scale of hiring is what we’re going to try and replicate,” said Perez.
On Tuesday, MSNBC’s Patrick Murphy attended a conversation on veterans employment and training at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington D.C. The discussions focused on examining how government and industry must work together to help the tough transition returning soldiers have in finding and being successful in civilian careers.
