February 16, 2015 •Kelley MacEwen
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) published a Summit report last week detailing our research on the outcomes of government-sponsored support for veterans seeking employment. Also last week, Terry Gerton of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) blogged about the results and emphatically said, "a little more loudly and a little more firmly: 'Veterans: Call your American Job Center (AJC). TODAY.'"
"At American Job Centers – there are nearly 2,500 of them in communities throughout the country – veterans receive priority of service, working one-on-one with specialists to improve their resumes, learn tips on networking and interviewing, connect with training, and find a job." Our report found that veterans who take advantage of the services offered at AJCs "have the highest entered employment rates, the highest employment retention rates, and the highest average earnings."
More about this engagement, including details about the methodology, can be found in our Case Studies section. Summit is proud to support DOL, CEO, and VETS in conducting this analysis and seeing the policy it influences. Ms. Gerton's post reinforces that data-driven analysis of contemporary issues can effect change and optimize these essential programs.