BREMERTON — Global Government Services, a ship-maintenance company with offices in Kitsap, is one of 12 Washington employers honored by the state for creating employment opportunities for veterans in their companies in 2016.
Dale Peinecke, commissioner of the state Employment Security Department, said Global and the other honorees’ “commitment to hiring veterans is truly exceptional. I hope other Washington employers will be inspired and follow their lead.”
Award recipients were nominated by WorkSource veterans-employment representatives who work directly with employers to help recruit, hire and retain veterans.
Global Government Services http://www.globalgovservices.com/ hired 96 people in 2016 to full-time positions, including laborers, helpers, welders, electricians, machinists and mechanics. The company has committed to hiring another 100 workers in 2017. Veterans comprise more than 50 percent of the company’s workforce in Bremerton.
There are currently 630,000 military veterans living in Washington. The Employment Security Department has staff at WorkSource offices who are specifically assigned to help veterans find jobs, including disabled veterans. The department has provided these services to veterans since 1933.
WorkSource is a statewide partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies that deliver a wide array of employment and training services for job seekers and employers. From July 2015 through June 2016, WorkSource placed nearly 7,500 veterans into jobs. Eighty-five percent were still employed after six months at an average wage of $17.60 per hour.
Employers who are interested in hiring veterans but don’t know where to start should contact their local WorkSource center for help.
Other help for veterans and incentives for employers:
- Department of Revenue: Business and Occupation (B&O) or Public Utility Tax (PUT) credits.
- Employment Security Department: Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
- Department of Veteran Affairs: Veterans Employee Resource Group and Veteran-Owned Business Certification.
