Veterans Green Jobs Partners with SolarCity to Boost Hiring of Military Veterans

Veterans Green Jobs, a national nonprofit organization that puts veterans to work in the green economic sector, has partnered with SolarCity, a national leader in clean energy services, to advance training and employment opportunities for military veterans nationwide. Veterans Green Jobs will match interested and qualified veterans to the open positions at SolarCity.

“Veterans Green Jobs and SolarCity share common goals related to promoting employment for veterans and advancing energy independence and energy security,” said John Toth, senior director of Veteran Programs for Veterans Green Jobs. “The solar energy industry is a growing and an important economic sector, and this collaboration presents a promising opportunity for the veterans we serve to contribute to the sustainability of our economy, environment and our communities.”

Veterans Green Jobs has a goal of placing 300 veterans in green sector jobs by mid-2013. It will achieve this by partnering with private companies, government entities, higher education institutions, training organizations and other nonprofits that want to train or hire military veterans.

“SolarCity is expanding its commitment to veteran hiring by partnering with Veterans Green Jobs,” said SolarCity’s Vice President of Human Resources, Linda Keala. “Our collaboration on recruiting and hiring makes the process more efficient for veterans who are interested in joining the green sector, which already employs more than three million Americans,” Keala added, citing a report that was issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in March 2012.

SolarCity provides solar electricity at a discount to utility power to homeowners and businesses. Veterans Green Jobs and SolarCity have developed a collaborative recruiting process to hire qualified veterans for many types of jobs in the company. SolarCity has committed to providing timely information about new employment opportunities within its company to Veterans Green Jobs, which the nonprofit will promote among military veterans through its networks and at events through its employment assistance program.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in June 2012, of those veterans who have served in the military since 2001, 12.7 percent were unemployed in May, and the youngest (18-24 years of age) are unemployed at a rate of 23.5 percent.

With founding sponsorships from Walmart and the Call of Duty Endowment, Veterans Green Jobs’ employment assistance program was launched in February 2012. It matches military veterans’ skills and experience with employment opportunities in such job sectors as renewable and clean energy, energy efficiency and outdoor conservation.