Veterans in the Labor Market

2020 Veterans Day Event

3rd Annual Veterans Day Celebration:
Veterans in the Labor Market
November 16, 2020

Watch The Recording

Veterans in the Labor Market

Readiness Recruitment Retention

Partners

Targeted audiences:

  1. Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families
  2. Stakeholders from Veteran Service Organizations
  3. Corporations and Organizations with Veteran hiring initiatives
  4. Illinois experts
  5. Government/state representatives- policy makers
  6. Illinois alumni and connections network
  7. LER union officials

Event Goals:

  1. Educate military-connected individuals and employers on best practices for hiring and retaining Veterans
  2. Learn from the lived experiences of Veterans struggling with meaningful employment post service
  3. Provide a list of recommendations for hosting Veteran hiring fairs
  4. Disseminate new findings about Veteran employment
  5. Facilitate dialogue among audience on the topic of Veteran employment

Event Summary:

Navigating the civilian workforce and securing meaningful employment is a core element of transitioning out of the military. Unfortunately, too many Veterans struggle with this process. A research team led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chez Veterans Center and School of Labor and Employment Relations has just completed a comprehensive, national study on Veteran employment with the post 9/11 generation. This data reveal event will present a snapshot of Veterans in the labor market, an overview of Veteran job satisfaction, best practices for Veteran career fairs, and factors influencing Veteran Employment. Key recommendations for employers, policymakers, and Veterans is included.

Full report of this study is now live! View it here.

Speakers Include:

  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
  • Assistant Secretary John Lowry, US Department of Labor VETS
  • Director Linda Chapa LaVia, Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Acting Director Kristin Richards, Illinois Department of Employment Security
  • Jas Boothe, former Army Major, Speaker/Coach/Trainer/Activist
  • Corporate perspectives from companies such as Uber and Boeing

See profiles of the speakers here.

Agenda/Run of Show:

Welcome

  • 1:00- 1:10     Welcome
    • Dr. Jeni Hunniecutt, Assistant Director of Research Engagement and Educational Programming and Research Assistant Professor, Chez Veterans Center
    • Ingrid Wheeler, LCSW, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health, Chez Veterans Center
  • 1:10- 1:15     National Anthem
    • Jean Lee, Artist Diploma Candidate, UIUC, Illinois Army National Guard Band
  • 1:15- 1:20     University of Illinois Welcome
    • Chancellor Robert J. Jones
  • 1:20- 1:25     College of Applied Health Sciences Welcome
    • Dr. Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, Dean, College of Applied Health Sciences
  • 1:25- 1:30     Chez Veterans Center’s Mission
    • Dr. Reginald Alston, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, AHS; Interim Director, Chez Veterans Center

Government & Corporate Perspectives of Veteran Employment

  • 1:30- 1:35     The State of Illinois: Employment & Veterans
    • Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker
  • 1:35- 1:45    Veterans for Hire: The Transition to Civilian Work
    • Linda Chapa LaVia, Director, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
  • 1:45- 1:55    IDES: Creating Career Pathways for Illinois Veterans
    • Kristin Richards, Acting Director, Illinois Department of Employment Security
  • 1:55- 2:05    U.S. Department of Labor VETS: Transition Assistance Initiative
    • John Lowry, Assistant Secretary
  • 2:05- 2:15    What Value you Bring Companies as Veterans: A Perspective
    • Perry Yaw, Senior Manager for Global Sales and Marketing, Boeing
  • 2:15- 2:25    Military, Veteran, and Partner (MVP) Recruiting
    • Michael Pett, Head of Military and Veterans Programs at Uber
  • 2:25- 2:35    A Veteran’s Lived Experience: Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst
    • Austin Hardas, Marine Corps Veteran, Graduate Student, Boeing Intern
  • 2:35- 2:45    Break

Research Study Overview and Data Reveal

  • 2:45- 2:50    Overview of Project for Middleclass Renewal
    • Dr. Robert Bruno, Director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal and Professor of Labor and Employment Relations, UIUC
  • 2:50- 2:55    Jobpath Mission & Research Partnership
    • Justin Constantine, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret)
  • 2:55-3:25    Data Reveal of Veterans in the Labor Market: Experiences of the Post 9/11 Generation
    • Dr. Jeni Hunniecutt, Assistant Director of Research Engagement and Educational Programming and Research Assistant Professor, Chez Veterans Center
    • Dr. JooHee Han, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oslo, Department of Sociology and Human Geography. (Former PMCR Postdoctoral Fellow at the UIUC School of Labor and Employment Relations).
  • 3:25- 3:40    Audience Q&A
    • Moderator: Ingrid Wheeler, LCSW, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health, Chez Veterans Center
    • Participants:
    • Dr. Jeni Hunniecutt, Assistant Director of Research Engagement and Educational Programming and Research Assistant Professor, Chez Veterans Center, UIUC
    • Dr. JooHee Han, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oslo, Department of Sociology and Human Geography. (Former PMCR Postdoctoral Fellow at the UIUC School of Labor and Employment Relations).
    • Alison Dickson, Instructor, Labor and Employment Relations, UIUC
    • Dr. Dustin Lange, Assistant Director of Academic and Career Services, Chez Veterans Center, UIUC
  • 3:40- 3:50    Break

Putting the Data to Work

  • 3:50-4:05    A Veteran’s Lived Experience: Pity or Power
    • Major Jas Boothe, Speaker/Coach/Trainer/Activist
  • 4:05- 4:50    Roundtable Discussion: Translating the Data into Action
    • Moderator: Dr. Robert Bruno, Director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal and Professor of Labor and Employment Relations, UIUC
    • Participants:
    • Dr. Dustin Lange, Assistant Director of Academic and Career Services, Chez Veterans Center
    • Justin Constantine, Marine Corps Veteran, Jobpath
    • Meg O’Grady, National Veterans Employment Manager, US DOL VETS
    • Gabriela Fernandez, Sr. Recruiting Coordinator, Uber
    • Cale Fulton, Human Resources Project Manager, Boeing
  • 4:50-4:55    Call to Action
    • Dr. Dustin Lange, Assistant Director of Academic and Career Services, Chez Veterans Center
  • 4:55-5:00    Closing Remarks
    • Dr. Jeni Hunniecutt, Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Research Engagement and Educational Programming, Chez Veterans Center
    • Ingrid Wheeler, LCSW, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health, Chez Veterans Center