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President Obama’s State of the Union address focused on a critical issue facing our nation – long term unemployment. This issue is of concern to business leaders and individuals alike. And, regardless of political beliefs, the support for this topic is resonating across America. I was honored to participate in President Obama’s forum for CEOs on long-term unemployment last week.
The individuals who participated this forum at the White House are leaders of industry, those who understand the value of strategic recruiting and have taken a 
leadership position on the importance of hiring. These leaders, as well as leaders from all industries, are making a commitment to putting America’s unemployed back to work. Read more about President Obama’s Meeting on Long-Term Unemployment.
To successfully hire the unemployed, recruiting efforts need to be strategic and deliberate. One tactic is aligning with employment agencies and non-profit organizations whose missions focus on job placement for the unemployed.
Another strategy is hiring our military veterans. According to the US Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate in December 2013 was 6.7%, while the unemployment rate for post 9/11 veterans was 7.3%. Although this is an improvement from the prior year – 10.8% in December 2012 – there is progress to be made. The heroes who have sacrificed for our freedom need our support when they transition to the civilian workplace. Military veterans bring leadership skills, dedication to duty, adaptability, an affinity to training, and a range of experience that make for highly desirable employment candidates across corporate America. Military hiring is not just good for our veterans and good for our businesses; it is simply the right thing to do.
It is important to recognize, however, that these efforts do not happen by chance. They require a firm commitment and an ongoing focus and dedication of resources. With the support of senior leadership, organizations can invest in advancing their own workforce and making a positive impact on this important issue.
Now is the time for all businesses to take the lead on hiring the unemployed, hiring military and supporting the employment needs of America. As with so many business initiatives, leadership plays an important role here. Leadership is often the dividing force between those who talk and those who execute.
Read more about leadership in Chief Executive magazine.
About the Author
Bill Whitmore is the Chairman of the Board for Allied Universal. He is also the author of "Potential: Workplace Violence Prevention and Your Organizational Success."
