On October 29, the New England Leadership Council of the National Association of Professional Employers (NAPEO) held a members forum in Concord, New Hampshire. Invited speakers included John Beardmore, Commissioner of the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA), James Craig, Commissioner of the Department of Labor (DOL) and George Copadis, Commissioner of the Department of Employment Security (DES).
Each of the commissioners updated our members on the state of government in the Granite State, but it was the report delivered by Commissioner Copadis that caught my attention. First, the good news. New Hampshire’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 4.3%, which ranks first in New England. In fact, no state east of the Mississippi has a better unemployment rate. Commissioner Copadis spoke of the success of regional job fairs, the NH Works Job Match System and concerted successful efforts to recover benefits collected illegally.
But it was his clear support of Operation Vets Connect that resonated with the group. On September 2, 2014, the DES launched a targeted program that aims to bring New Hampshire businesses and the veteran community together through return-to-work efforts, job and skills training programs and apprenticeships. The program runs through December 10, 2014.
As we honor our veterans this week, Granite State business owners should take advantage of this initiative. Reintegration in the workforce is oftentimes a challenge for many veterans, despite the fact that the veteran community has broad skill sets to offer potential employers. Hiring a veteran is not only a good idea, it’s a smart business move. We congratulate the efforts of Commissioner Copadis and his team at the DES. New Hampshire is clearly a state on the move and it will be interesting to see how Operation Vets Connect affects the unemployment rate in 2015. It’s a safe bet that the good news will continue.
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