14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft continues to increase its investment in the Elevate America veterans initiative, which has reached no less than $12 million.
Case in point: the software giant is offering 10,000 vouchers for technology training and certification to veterans in the United States, collaborating with the U.S. Department of Labor.
The vouchers are designed to provide veterans and their spouses with the chance to get new technology skills and certifications, helping them to find jobs.
According to the Redmond company, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans rose to 12.1% in October 2011. Last month, the overall unemployment rate decreased, reaching 8.4% for nonveterans.
“Veterans have served our country bravely, have superb military training, and have developed valuable leadership, management and diplomatic skills,” noted Brad Smith, general counsel and executive vice president, Microsoft.
“We hope that by providing additional access to training and other employment resources, we will help close the opportunity divide for more of our servicemen and women, as well as their spouses, who have also made great sacrifices.”
The vouches Microsoft is providing through the Elevate America veterans initiative will be offered to people in five areas: Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (Wash.); San Diego Workforce Partnership (Calif.); Houston-Galveston Area Council (Texas); Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board (Va.); and First Coast Workforce Development/WorkSource Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.).
No less than 2,000 vouchers will be granted to each area, and veterans will be able to access 1,000 per year.
“We hope that by providing additional access to training and other employment resources, we will help close the opportunity divide for more of our servicemen and women, as well as their spouses, who have also made great sacrifices.”