Construction Employers Pledge to Hire More Veterans

Construction employers and associations, the US Labor Department and Joining Forces collectively pledged to hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years

In an announcement today at A National Symposium: Veterans’ Employment in Construction, hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor and Joining Forces, First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez celebrated a broad coalition of construction employers and associations that have collectively pledged to hire 100,000 veterans over the next five years.

Also at the announcement were representatives of the construction companies making these hiring commitments, veterans who have completed apprenticeships in the construction industry and other leaders in the field.

The construction industry is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years – outpacing the steady growth of the economy as a whole and helping to strengthen local communities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that construction is one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation, with job growth of more than 1.5 million jobs between now and 2022 – an annual growth rate of 2.6 percent.

Construction companies large and small – from national firms like Jacobs and Bechtel, to regional firms like Cianbro Construction, to local contractors and subcontractors across America – are stepping up to ensure their industry welcomes home the nation’s heroes with good-paying jobs. More than 80 additional companies are committing their existing training and employment programs to fill new construction jobs with veterans.

The construction industry was represented at the announcement by executives of several participating companies.

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