WSST provides details of the Annual Hiring Red, White & You! Job Fair
Melva Castillo
November 8, 2024
LAREDO, Texas — Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) will host its Annual Hiring Red, White & You! Job Fair on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the One-Stop Center at 1406 Jacaman Road, Suite A, in Laredo, Texas.
This initiative by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) aims to connect Texas veterans and their spouses with employers actively seeking the unique skills of veterans, service members, and their families.
Open to all, the event will feature over 30 booths hosted by employers and service providers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We are extremely grateful to our veterans for their sacrifices in service to our country. We enjoy countless freedoms today because of their dedication,” said Rogelio Trevino, Executive Director for Workforce Solutions for South Texas, at a press conference on Friday, November 1. “While veterans bring tremendous skills and training back to civilian life, they sometimes face challenges securing employment. This event aims to ease that transition and connect them with meaningful opportunities.”
The TWC reports that in its 12th year (2023), the Hiring Red, White & You! initiative in Texas engaged more than 2,178 employers and 11,574 job seekers, including 3,620 veterans, resulting in over 500 same-day hires.
Trevino emphasized that participating employers will be offering roles with substantial wages to support veterans’ quality of life.
“These employers offer jobs starting at $15 an hour and higher. We wanted to ensure that we provide veterans with positions that allow them to lead fulfilling lives,” Trevino added.
WSST encourages job seekers to pre-register for quicker access to the event. Interested participants can pre-register at bit.ly/hiringyou24 and receive a wristband upon confirmation from a Customer Service Representative.
Gabriel Lopez, a veteran and Assistant Director for the Texas Veterans Leadership Program, highlighted that employers hiring veterans may be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, potentially offering up to $9,600 in federal tax benefits when hiring veterans from certain qualified groups.
“It’s a win-win,” Lopez said. “The veteran secures employment, and the employer benefits from tax credits.”
Lopez also underscored why veterans are excellent hires.
“The transition from military to civilian work can be challenging. While military roles differ from civilian positions, veterans bring invaluable leadership, organization, and teamwork skills that make them ideal employees,” he explained.
Key TWC Data on Texas Veterans:
Texas is the #1 state for veteran-owned and women-veteran-owned businesses.
Texas has 1.5 million veterans, the highest population of women veterans in any state.
Over 22,000 service members transition to Texas annually after completing their military service.
For more details about the 13th Annual Hiring Red, White & You! Job Fair, please visit the South Texas Workforce Board website at www.southtexasworkforce.org or bit.ly/hrwy2024.
