A state bill introduced last week by several Michigan legislators is seeking to improve on an older law to increase opportunities for unemployed veterans. The amendment would provide an employer a tax incentive for each qualified veteran hired during a tax year that would equal 25 percent or $4,000 of the veteran’s salary, whichever is less.
Michigan had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country in 2010, and continuing in 2011, but the situation for veterans is much worse, according to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. Statewide unemployment rates for everyone are at 12.8 percent. For veterans this percentage jumps to 16 percent, and for post-9/11 veterans, unemployment is a staggering 29.4 percent.
Veterans make up only 6.5 percent of the state’s population.
Michigan is not alone. Nationally the unemployment rates for veterans are higher than for nonveterans. This is connected to the fact that there are more disabled veterans in the post-9/11 era than there have been in any other era. With modern advances in medical care contributing to recovery, wounded soldiers survive wounds that were not survivable in previous generations.
But disability affects a veteran’s ability to become and stay gainfully employed, upon leaving active duty.
While each state is struggling with a way to address the problem, at the national level there are several bills circulating through Congress to targeting unemployment of veterans. H.R. 2875 is titled the Wounded Veteran Job Security Act, and was introduced Sept. 9. The bill would provide opportunity for re-employment to those qualified, following absences for medical treatment for certain injuries, and illnesses and other purposes.
There is also H.R. 561, the Veterans Employment Tax Credit Act of 2011, which will amend the IRS tax code to extend the work opportunity tax credit to veterans.
Finally, there is H.R. 1941, the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, which seeks to increase transition, rehabilitation, vocational and unemployment benefits for members of the armed forces and veterans. It includes job training for all exiting active duty service men and women, which is noteworthy because for the first time, the skills are gained before leaving active duty.
The general consensus is to provide a helping hand to those who serve, so that veterans have a running start that transitions into self-sustainability. Given opportunities to develop and hone leadership skills within the military structure, many veterans are men and women who often work under deadlines, and pressure. Some have learned to do more with less, adapting to circumstances.
Veterans Day is Friday. America has over 22 million veterans, about 10 percent of the total population according to the Census Bureau.
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