Bipartisan Casey-Cosponsored Bill Would Help Create Jobs for Veterans, Provide Skill Development Opportunities
WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today pushed for Senate passage of the Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012, legislation he cosponsored to help ensure servicemembers have jobs and training opportunities upon their return to the civilian workforce.
“High veteran unemployment is unacceptable and deserving of immediate action,” said Senator Casey. “We can and must come together to create employment opportunities for veterans and help them overcome the unique challenges they face when returning to the civilian workforce. Their experience and skills are too valuable to remain untapped, and helping them gain employment will strengthen the entire economy.”
The Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012 would create new opportunities for veterans to be employed in national forests, parks and public lands. It would also create new opportunities for veterans to become first responders or pursue other public service positions.
Additionally, the bill would establish career specialists and other job searching resources to assist veterans.
Far too many veterans remain unemployed, according to recent data. At 10.9%, veteran unemployment is particularly high among our youngest veterans who served after September 11. A county-by-county breakdown of the number of unemployed veterans in Pennsylvania is below:
|
County |
# of Veterans |
Vet Unemployment % |
Non-Vet Unemployment % |
|
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
93804 |
10.5 |
8 |
|
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania |
5409 |
6.4 |
8.1 |
|
Beaver County, Pennsylvania |
15354 |
8.7 |
8.3 |
|
Berks County, Pennsylvania |
30021 |
7.2 |
9.6 |
|
Blair County, Pennsylvania |
11640 |
15.5 |
5.6 |
|
Bucks County, Pennsylvania |
42497 |
8.8 |
8.4 |
|
Butler County, Pennsylvania |
17040 |
8.9 |
7.3 |
|
Cambria County, Pennsylvania |
14005 |
9.9 |
8.5 |
|
Carbon County, Pennsylvania |
5596 |
8.5 |
12.6 |
|
Centre County, Pennsylvania |
9236 |
12.4 |
6.1 |
|
Chester County, Pennsylvania |
34122 |
9.5 |
5.9 |
|
Clearfield County, Pennsylvania |
8079 |
15.5 |
11.9 |
|
Columbia County, Pennsylvania |
4877 |
3.9 |
6.1 |
|
Crawford County, Pennsylvania |
7989 |
20.3 |
8.8 |
|
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania |
21917 |
3.1 |
5.3 |
|
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania |
23674 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
|
Delaware County, Pennsylvania |
37430 |
8.2 |
9.7 |
|
Erie County, Pennsylvania |
21527 |
9.4 |
9.1 |
|
Fayette County, Pennsylvania |
11976 |
15.3 |
13.3 |
|
Franklin County, Pennsylvania |
13375 |
9.4 |
8.5 |
|
Indiana County, Pennsylvania |
7808 |
12 |
11.2 |
|
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania |
19068 |
8.1 |
8.7 |
|
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania |
32787 |
9.7 |
7.6 |
|
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania |
8220 |
14.8 |
8.4 |
|
Lebanon County, Pennsylvania |
11786 |
2.4 |
8.1 |
|
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania |
24837 |
13.4 |
11 |
|
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
28083 |
7.8 |
10.5 |
|
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania |
11029 |
3.9 |
9.1 |
|
Mercer County, Pennsylvania |
11012 |
10 |
9.4 |
|
Monroe County, Pennsylvania |
14506 |
16.1 |
14.6 |
|
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania |
54234 |
10.3 |
7.1 |
|
Northampton County, Pennsylvania |
23770 |
10.6 |
9.7 |
|
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania |
10738 |
8.3 |
10.7 |
|
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania |
77641 |
16.6 |
15.5 |
|
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania |
15807 |
7.6 |
10.9 |
|
Somerset County, Pennsylvania |
7427 |
9.2 |
9.9 |
|
Washington County, Pennsylvania |
18689 |
9.8 |
9.7 |
|
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania |
34921 |
8.4 |
9.1 |
|
York County, Pennsylvania |
35840 |
9.1 |
9.3 |
