Farmingdale Reserve Center to Host Job Fair for Vets

Some 90 businesses committed to hiring veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserves will be in Farmingdale Wednesday for a big job fair.

The New York National Guard will host the “Hire Our Heroes” Job Fair on Wednesday at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature 90 businesses committed to hiring veterans and members of the Guard and Reserve.

“Too many of our veterans returning home after serving our country have struggled to find employment, which is why these career fairs are such important resources,” Cuomo said.

The Farmingdale event, at 25 Baiting Place Road, Farmingdale, is one of hundreds being held across the country co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other entities. The fair is designed to allow National Guard soldiers and airmen, military reserve members, active duty service members, veterans and military spouses to submit applications to prospective employers and also learn how to use job-hunting tools.

Similar events in New York have already been held in New York City, Buffalo, Binghamton, Rochester and Syracuse, the governor's office said.

Almost 2.8 million Americans have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001 – more than 40 percent of whom are men between the ages of 25 and 34. According to figures released in July by the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for all post-9/11 veterans stood at 7.4 percent, compared with the national rate of 7.2 percent for all Americans.

Prior to these recent numbers, unemployment for post 9/11 veterans had been running at about 12 percent.

According to U.S. Census figures New York State is home to almost a million veterans, more than 67,000 of whom live in Nassau County. The unemployment rate for Nassau County veterans is 10.3 percent.