Department of Labor (DOL)Veterans’ Employment and Training Service

(VETS)

VETERANS.GOV

VETS 101Priority of Service

Rick Larson

Agenda

• Veteran Demographics and Trends

• DOL Integrated Services

• VETS’ Mission (4Ps)

• Prepare: Transition Assistance Program

• Provide: State Workforce Agencies via the AJC Network

• Protect: USERRA and Veteran Preference

• Promote: Employer Outreach and Hire VETS

• Priority of Service for Veterans

Veteran Demographics

• 19.4 M total veterans in the U.S. 90.2% male 9.8% female Median age = 64

• Nearly 50% of all veterans are in the workforce (9.7M): 67% of veterans in the workforce are 45 years or older 1.7% of veterans in the workplace are under 25 years old

• Declining unemployment rates Veteran unemployment rates continue to trend lower than non-

veterans 362K unemployed veterans 55% of unemployed veterans are 45 years or older 2.7% of unemployed veterans are under 25 years old

Unemployment rates continue to trend down -for veterans and nonveterans

4.4

4.23.8

3.7

6.5

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Nonveterans

Unemployment rate (percent)

Gulf War-era II veterans

Total veterans

NOTE: The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed as a percent of the labor force. SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (CPS), annual averages 2006-2017

4.5

Sheet1

NonveteranVeteransGulf War-era II veteran

20064.43.86.5

20074.43.86.1

20085.64.67.3

20099.18.110.2

20109.48.711.5

20118.78.312.1

20127.97.09.9

20137.26.69.0

20146.05.37.2

20155.24.65.8

20164.74.35.1

20174.23.74.5

Chart1

200620062006

200720072007

200820082008

200920092009

201020102010

201120112011

201220122012

201320132013

201420142014

201520152015

201620162016

201720172017

Nonveterans

Nonveteran

Veterans

Gulf War-era II veteran

4.2

3.7

4.4

3.8

6.5

4.4

3.8

6.1

5.6

4.6

7.3

9.1

8.1

10.2

9.4

8.7

11.5

8.7

8.3

12.1

7.9

7

9.9

7.2

6.6

9

6

5.3

7.2

5.2

4.6

5.8

4.7

4.3

5.1

4.2

3.7

4.5

Veterans

Nonveterans18-24

18-24

VETERANS.GOV

Veteran Unemployment Rates

Veteran Demographics – Total Veterans by Age Group and Labor Force Status

Source: US Dept of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics; Employment Situation Summary Table A-40, May 2018

Veteran Demographics – Veteran Population and Labor Force are Declining

Source: US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; data series January 2007 through May 2018

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)o Coordinates Agency efforts

Employment & Training Administration (ETA)o National Workforce System (AJCs)o UCX, Office of Apprenticeship, WIOA, Grants

Office of the Solicitor (SOL) o Employment law expertise; enforcement in U.S. veteran discrimination cases.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)o Continuously monitors and analyzes U.S. veteran employment statistics

Chief Evaluation Officer (CEO)o Evaluates effectiveness /efficiency of Veteran employment programs

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)o Focuses on disability-related policies that benefit veterans

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)o Affirmative action provisions of VEVRAA

Women’s Bureau (WB)o Develops policies, advocates for equality and economic security and promotes quality work environments for working women/veterans

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)o Military Family Leave Act (FMLA)

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)o Financial literacy/military retirement structure

Integrated Approach

VETSETA

SOL

BLS

CEOODEP

WB

WHD

EBSA

OFCCP

Networked across DOL agencies

Regional Locations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,

Philadelphia, San Francisco

www.VETERANS.GOV

USDOL Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS): MISSION

We PREPARE America’s veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses for meaningful careers;

We PROVIDE them with employment resources and expertise;

We PROTECT their employment rights; and

We PROMOTE their employment opportunities.

www.VETERANS.GOV

Prepare: Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

Pre-Separation Counseling (DoD)- 12 months out for separations- 24 months out for retirements

Core Curriculum- Resilient Transitions (DoD)- MOC Crosswalk (DoD)- Financial Planning (DoD)- Employment Workshop (DOL)- Benefits Briefing (VA)

Specialized Tracks- Career Exploration and Planning

Track (DOL)- Assessing Higher Education (DoD)- Entrepreneur (SBA)

Capstone

Key points: Teach mechanics of attaining meaningful job 3-days/class size: max 50 Tangible products:

• Individual Transition Plan• Skills assessment/Job search• Resume/Cover Letters

FY 17••

6,094 workshops/ 187 locations 164,316 participants/4,864 Guard and Reserve

Curriculum on-line (eBook on Amazon.com) Annual curriculum review

The services, training, tools and support a transitioning service memberneeds to meet Career Readiness Standards

Spouses are eligible to participate in DOL’s Employment Workshop on a space-available basis

Available on-line/any-time at: http://www.dol.gov/vets

http://www.dol.gov/vets

eBook on Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JNR2H6A

FREE Read On Any

Device

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JNR2H6A

Provide: Employment Resources and Expertise

www.careeronestop.orgNational Phone Helpline: 1-877-872-5627

• DOL funds State Workforce Agencies to operate over 2,400 American Job Centers (AJCs).• The American Job Centers (AJC) delivered services and support to over 5.5 million

Americans last year.• Almost 400,000 were VETS, Guardsman and Reservists.• VETS funds 1,237 Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program specialists (DVOPs) nationwide. • VETS funds 515 Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVERs) nationwide.

• The Atlanta Region funds 301 DVOPs; 158 LVERS and 24 dual funded Consolidated DVOP/LVER positions.

• Total Atlanta Region JVSG funding provides 483 positions across our eight states.

www.VETERANS.GOV

http://www.careeronestop.org/

Provide: Employment Services for Homeless Veterans

Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) VETS provides policy and annual funding to over 150 grantees Grantees serve over 16,000 homeless VETS each year Grantees provide services to expedite the employment of homeless veterans Average annual placement rate is 68% May serve specialized populations such as incarcerated or female

veterans/veterans with dependent children

Stand-Down Grants One or two day community event to provide basic care and supplies to homeless

veterans Stand Down events serve as gateways into structured housing and reintegration

programs Stand Down organizers partner with local business and social service providers to

offer critical services

www.nvtac.org

Data from VETS 2017

Annual Report

Provide: Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Partnership

• Veteran Affairs (VA) operates a rehabilitation and employment program for disabled veterans called Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E).

• Through a Memorandum of Understanding between the VA, VETS and the state workforce agency, participants must receive workforce services – usually from DVOP staff. Labor Market Information (LMI) is provided after

entitlement is established and prior to training and is designed to provide information on employment prospects for specific training.

Employment Services are provided after training is completed and is focused on employment in the career for which the disabled veteran was trained.

Protect: Employment Rights

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)• VETS administers USERRA with the support of DoD ESGR• Protects employment rights of over 1,000,000 Guard, Reserve and US Veterans• ESGR call center responds annually to over 15,000 inquiries• VETS annually provides technical assistance to ESGR and investigates over 900 cases

74% of cases have no merit, 26% have merit and most merit cases resolved • Claimants can refer cases to Dept of Justice (DOJ) and Office of Special Counsel (OSC)

DOJ and OSC satisfactorily resolve most referred cases

Veterans’ Preference in Federal Employment protects veterans’ rights by investigating and attempting to resolve complaints

VETS investigated 419 complaints and 10 cases had merit

VETS 4212 requires contractors to submit annual data on veteran hiring 742,469 VETS employed in FY 16 / 1,000,717 in FY 17

Data from VETS 2017 Annual Reports to Congress

Promote: AJC Services for Employers

ServicesJob description writingPosting job openingsReviewing applicants’ resumesPre-screening of job applicantsAssessment of applicants’ skillsReferral of job-ready candidatesWorkforce informationSkill upgrading and career ladders

OJTInternshipsApprenticeshipsShort-term training

Places to conduct interviewsOrganizing job fairs

Connect• Locate the closest AJC to your facility

• www.veterans.gov • www.careeronestop.org

• Contact a Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) or Business Services staff

• Business Services: Works with employer to enter open positions into the state workforce system

• LVER: Works with the employers, ensuring that the position is in the state’s job bank & assists the employer with sourcing viable veteran candidates to fill those positions

www.VETERANS.GOV

http://www.servicelocator.org/http://www.careeronestop.org/

Promote: VETERANS.GOV (Virtual “One Stop”)

For Job Seekers Connect with one-on-one assistance in more than 2,400 American

Job Centers located conveniently in communities around the country.

Explore Veterans’ Job Bank /National Labor Exchange online job listings.

Search career paths by industry, by similarity to military careers, or by keyword.

Locate approved local training programs, colleges and universities. Access resources from States and Federal partners to connect with

industry career programs in sectors including agriculture, transportation, energy/utilities, homeland security, and employment in the Federal government.

Learn how to start a business.

For Employers Connect with regional employer outreach specialists in DOL VETS

to access local resources for meeting your unique hiring needs. Post position descriptions and openings in the Veterans’ Job Bank

/National Labor Exchange database. Access the free veteran hiring toolkit, “America's Heroes at Work,”

and other resources for employers.

DOL.GOV/VETERANS

Promote: Employer Outreach Program

1. Connect companies with federal, state and local resources to facilitate veterans’ employment.

2. Leverage federal, state and local employmentresources and programs to reduce employer costs.

3. Consult with companies on their needs, educatethem on resources and assist them withdeveloping apprenticeships to address skill gapsand to attract more veterans.

4. Coordinate employment resources and expertiseacross businesses, employer groups, veterans’ organizations, state workforce partners and government agencies to promote veterans’ employment opportunities.

Bottom Line: Make it easier for employers to find and hire veterans.

• Higher Education is becoming unaffordable…graduates unemployed

• DOL Office of Apprenticeship reform process • DOL establish guidelines, expedite registration• Establish industry-recognized apprenticeships• Government will provide more affordable pathways to high-paying jobs• Focus on expanding access to students

• secondary educational institutions /Community colleges• Promoting apprenticeships to … service members and veterans

• Skill gap and open jobs• Advanced Manufacturing - + 350K open jobs today

• Secretary of Education support the efforts of community colleges to incorporate apprenticeships into their courses of study

• Task Force on Apprenticeships

Presidential Executive Order:Expanding Apprenticeships in America

Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program

Benefits to Companies:

• Receive consulting services from DOL in the design, development, and structure of their Registered Apprenticeship program

• By partnering with DOL, it will bring a level of credibility to their training program by meeting approved standards

• Upon completion of the program, the apprentice will earn a nationally recognized credential. This credential be used as a recruiting tool to attract prospective applicants

• The company will attract veterans and those transitioning out of the servicesince they will be able to utilize GI Bill benefits (not take on educational debt)

• Career Skills Program/Skill Bridge (military pays transitioning service member’s salary while in pre-apprenticeship training program)

• Increased employee retention / reduce turnover costs• Creates a system where employers can track return on investment of training

dollars invested

Department of Defense SkillBridge Program

DoD can use the SkillBridge program to connect to DOL programs already in place and funded to facilitate Transitioning Service Members’ success.

Through DoD SkillBridge, tremendous potential exists for service members, companies, trade unions, and others to leverage this talent pipeline to meet state, regional, and industry workforce needs.

Licensing and Certifications

The opportunities for service members to translate their experience and skills into civilian employment has never been better!

Service members are trained in hundreds of occupations with relevance to civilian employment opportunities There are few nationally recognized licenses and

certifications DOL is working with DOD and the states as they develop

their licensing and certification programs Counselors at the American Job Centers can help

veterans navigate through the Licensing and Certification process

Promote: HIRE Vets Act

The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017 (HIRE Vets Act) requires DOL to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to recognize employer efforts to:

(1) Recruit, Employ, and Retain veterans

(2) Provide community and charitable services supporting the veteran community.

Under this Act, DOL will:

• Establish the program, no later than 2 years after enactment • Solicit, Review, Verify award applications from employers• Notify award recipients• Issue Medallion awards at a time coinciding with Veterans Day

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/438/text?format=txt

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/438/text?format=txt

Promote: HIRE Vets Act Award Criteria

HIREVets.govHire Vets Medallion Program Demonstration- Concept- Specifics- Outreach

Spouse Employment Challenges

Unemployment and underemployment challengesMilitary spouses with degrees face the greatest

challenges Licensing and credentialing challenges Frequent moves create havoc on careers Need for two incomes Additional deployment stressors Stay or Go … National Security Issue Lack of awareness of DOL employment programs

VETERANS.GOV

For MilSpouses & Survivors

http://www.dol.gov/vets/militaryspouses/

Eligible spouses may also qualify for our Dislocated Worker Program, Displaced Homemaker, and other services at their local American Job Center

Eligible family members under the Family and Military Family Leave (FMLA) Act may take up to 26 workweeks of military caregiver leave to care for a service member with a serious injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty

Eligible to receive services from any of our 2,414 American Job Centers (AJCs)

Can access the virtual Transition Assistance Program through the DOL VETS website at www.dol.gov/vets

Eligible spouses and care-givers also receive priority of service in any DOL-funded program

http://www.dol.gov/vets

Spouse Employment Partnership Opportunities

White House PriorityDepartment of Defense, Military Spouse Employment Partnership

(MSEP)Chamber of Commerce Foundation/Hiring Our Heroes

– Career Spark– Spouse hiring events– Corporate fellowship

USO – Pathfinder– Veterati

America Serves/Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) Linked In

– Network, Jobs, Training

Dr. Nancy A. Glowacki – glowacki.nancy.a@dol.gov – 202-693-4712

• Conducts analysis of the employment situation of women veterans

• Makes policy recommendations as appropriate

• Serves in an advisory role on the status of women veterans and employment

• Provides publicly available information at www.dol.gov/vets/womenveterans

Women Veteran Program

http://www.dol.gov/vets/womenveterans

PRIORITY OF SERVICE PRIORITY OF SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR USDOL PROGRAMS

What is Priority of Service?

Priority of Service: DEFINITION

“Priority of Service means the right of veterans and eligible spouses to take

precedence over a non-covered person in obtaining all employment and training

services.”

Veterans receive these services earlier in time, or instead of non-covered persons.

Priority of Service: SCOPE

• Recipients of USDOL funds for job training programs are subject to priority of service regulations, and are required by law to provide priority of service to veterans and eligible spouses. (20 CFR 1010.110).

• “Job Training Program” means any program or service for workforce preparation, development, or delivery that is directly funded, in whole or in part, by USDOL.

• For the purpose of this guidance, the term “Program Operator" is intended to refer to a recipient or a sub-recipient of USDOL funds for a qualified job training program.

• Agreement by a program operator to implement priority of service is a condition of receipt of USDOL funds.

Priority of Service: IMPLEMENTATION

• States must address priority of service in their comprehensive strategic plan for their workforce investment system and develop policies for the delivery of priority of service by the State Workforce Agency, Local Workforce Investment Boards, and Career Centers for all job training programs delivered through the workforce system.

• The policy or policies must require that processes are in place to ensure that veterans and eligible spouses are identified at the point of entry and given an opportunity to take full advantage of priority of service.

Priority of Service: IMPLEMENTATION

• States' policies must require each Local Workforce Investment Board to develop and include in its strategic local plan, policies and procedures implementing priority of service for the local One-Stop Career Centers and for service delivery by local workforce preparation and training providers.

• Written copies of local priority of service policies should be maintained at all service delivery points and available to the general public.

Priority of Service: ELIGIBILITY

• For priority of service, “Veteran” means a person who served at least one day in the military and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. • Active service includes service in the National Guard or

Reserves for Federal duty other than training.• "Eligible spouse" generally means the spouse of a

veteran who died of a service-connected disability; is a POW or is MIA; has a total service-connected disability; or who died while disabled from the service-connected disability.

Verifying Veteran Status

• It is not appropriate to require verification of veteran status at the point of entry.• Self-attestation is sufficient for access to employment

services.• The only services requiring prior verification of

eligibility are those that require a commitment of outside resources, such as classroom training.

• If documentation is not available, the veteran should be enrolled on a priority basis while waiting on proof of eligibility.

Verifying Veteran Status

• Status can be verified by referring to the following documents Form DD-214. Official VA notice of disability establishing

entitlement to rating or compensation. Official notice from DoD documenting

eligibility. Official notice from the NC Division of Military

and Veteran Affairs of entitlement.

Priority of Service: INTERPRETATION

• Priority of service means that veterans and eligible spouses are given priority for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services.

• Priority means that veterans and eligible spouses are entitled to precedence over non-covered persons for services and either receives access to a service earlier in time than a non-covered person or, if the resource is limited, receives access to the service instead of or before the non-covered person.

• It is important to note that state and local program operators do not have the discretion to establish further priorities within the overall priority established by the regulations.

Priority of Service: EXAMPLE

• For a service such as classroom training, priority of service applies to the selection procedure, as follows:

• First, if there is a waiting list for the formation of a training class, priority of service require a veteran or eligible spouse to go to the top of that list.

• Second, priority of service applies up to the point at which an individual is both: a) approved for funding; and, b) accepted or enrolled in a training class.

• Once a non-covered person has been enrolled in a training class, priority of service is not intended to allow a veteran or eligible spouse who is identified subsequently to "bump" the non-covered person from that training class.

Applying Priority of Service

• Universal Access programs – veterans and eligible spouses must receive priority of service over all others.

• Programs with Eligibility Criteria – veterans and eligible spouses must first meet eligibility criteria and then receive priority of service within any sub-group.

• Statutory Criteria – required by law to provide a priority or preference for a particular group (e.g. low income). Priority of Service applies within the sub-group.

• Discretionary Priorities – program includes a focus on serving a particular group without being mandated in law. Priority of Service applies without restriction.

Exemption of Military Service-Related Income

• Programs with income criteria in rule or policy must note that most income related to military service should not be considered in eligibility assessments.• Compensation for service-connected disability/death.• Educational Assistance funds (GI Bill) for Active Military or

Reserve members.• Training and rehabilitation payments to disabled veterans.• Survivor’s and dependents’ educational assistance.

Pension benefits are not exempt.

Exclusion of VA Funded Training Allowances

• WIOA regulations require the coordination of WIOA funded training with “other grant assistance” (e.g. Pell Grants).

• VA funded benefits are not included in the statutory and regulatory category of “other grant assistance.”

• Program operators may not require veterans or eligible spouses to exhaust their entitlement to VA funded training benefits prior to enrollment in WIOA.

Monitoring Priority of Service

• US Department of Labor will monitor the implementation and operation of programs to ensure Priority of Service is observed.

• Monitoring is the responsibility of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and the agency responsible for the program’s administration and oversight.

Priority of Service: GUIDANCE

TEGL 10-09; VPL 07-09 - Attachment A and Attachment B

• The primary USDOL guidance on Priority of Service• Provides some additional Frequently Asked Questions with USDOL

responses

TEN 15-10; with“A Protocol for Implementing Priority of Service For Veterans and Eligible Spouses”• Provides an excellent training protocol for training AJC and WIB on

Priority of Service requirements• This document may be shared and or used as you think most

appropriate. VETS staff can also assist in providing training.

Priority of Service: QUICK REFERENCE

TEGL 10-09 (VPL 07-09)• Indicates specific requirements placed on state workforce agencies, WIBs and AJC

office staff in implementing Priority of Service for veterans and eligible spouses as they relate to USDOL funded training and employment programs.

Page 4: Eligibility for Priority of Service as a veteran or eligible spouse.Page 6: Guidance on applying Priority of Service to programs (like WIOA) that have statutory eligibility criteria.

In TEGL 10-09, Attachment A

Page 11: Addresses the exclusion of most military income when programs have a low income requirement.Page 12: Guidance on verification of veteran status and that of eligible spouses.Page 13: Definition of a veteran for both Priority of Service consideration and for JVSG services, explaining the difference between the two.Page 13: The exclusion of GI Bill benefits from WIA (now WIOA) consideration with other grant assistance funding.

Questions?

www.mynextmove.orgwww.myskillsmyfuture.org

http://www.mynextmove.org/http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/

Department of Labor (DOL)�Veterans’ Employment and Training Service�(VETS) AgendaVeteran DemographicsUnemployment rates continue to trend down - for veterans and nonveteransSlide Number 5Veteran Demographics – Total Veterans by Age Group and Labor Force StatusVeteran Demographics – Veteran Population and Labor Force are DecliningSlide Number 8Slide Number 9Prepare: Transition Assistance Program (TAP)eBook on Amazon.comSlide Number 12Slide Number 13Provide: Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment PartnershipSlide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Slide Number 18Slide Number 19Slide Number 20Slide Number 21Slide Number 22Slide Number 23Slide Number 24HIREVets.gov Spouse Employment ChallengesSlide Number 27Spouse Employment Partnership OpportunitiesWomen Veteran ProgramPriority of service �Priority of service requirements for usdol programsSlide Number 31Priority of Service: DEFINITIONPriority of Service: SCOPEPriority of Service: IMPLEMENTATIONPriority of Service: IMPLEMENTATIONPriority of Service: ELIGIBILITYVerifying Veteran StatusVerifying Veteran StatusPriority of Service: INTERPRETATIONPriority of Service: EXAMPLEApplying Priority of ServiceExemption of Military Service-Related IncomeExclusion of VA Funded Training AllowancesMonitoring Priority of ServicePriority of Service: GUIDANCEPriority of Service: QUICK REFERENCESlide Number 47