Sherrod Brown says unemployment among young vets tops 20 percent
PolitiFact Ohio – Hiring armed forces veterans is nothing new for GrafTech International, a high-tech manufacturer based in Cleveland for 125 years. The practice has been beneficial, the company says, because veterans have the traits of leadership, teamwork and dedication it seeks.
Now looking to hire more veterans for up to 45 jobs at its Lakewood and Parma, Ohio, facilities, GrafTech has found an added benefit: tax incentives.
The VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which provides job training for service members making the transition to civilian life, also provides tax credit of up to $9,600 to companies hiring unemployed veterans. (VOW stands for Veterans Opportunity to Work.) The legislation was signed into law in November.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, who co-sponsored the act, visited GrafTech to highlight the need for it.
“Today, many veterans — including our young veterans — face an unacceptably high unemployment rate,” the Democrat said. “More than one in five of veterans aged 20 to 24 can’t find a job to support their family or to ease the transition to civilian life.”
