Department of Labor (DOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)

1. Department of Labor (DOL)Veterans’ Employment and Training Service(VETS) VETS Mission Brief And Priority of Service for Veterans John Savage VETERANS.GOV

2. Agenda • Veteran Demographics and Trends • VETS’ Mission (4Ps) • Prepare: Transition Assistance Program • Provide: State Workforce Agencies via the AJC Network • Protect: USERRA and Veteran Preference • Promote: Employer Outreach • Priority of Service for Veterans

3. VeteranDemographics • 19.4M total veterans in the U.S. • 90.2% male • 9.8% female • Medianage= 64 • Nearly50%of all veterans areintheworkforce (9.7M): • 67%ofveteransin the workforce are45yearsorolder • 1.7% of veterans in the workplace are under 25 years old • Decliningunemploymentrates • Veteranunemploymentratescontinuetotrendlowerthannon- veterans • 362K unemployed veterans • 55% of unemployed veterans are 45 years or older • 2.7% of unemployed veterans are under 25 years old

4. Unemployment rates continue to trend down - for veterans and nonveterans Unemployment rate(percent) Gulf War-era II veterans 4.5 Total veterans NOTE: The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed as a percent of the labor force. SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (CPS), annual averages 2006-2017

5. VeteranDemographics – Total Veterans by Age Group and Labor Force Status Highest Supply Highest Demand Source: US Dept of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics; Employment Situation Summary Table A-40, Nov 2018

6. USDOL Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS): MISSION We PREPARE America’s veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses for meaningful careers; We PROVIDE them with employment resources and expertise; We PROTECTtheir employment rights; and We PROMOTEtheir employment opportunities. www.VETERANS.GOV

7. Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) Formula grant to each state ($6.1m to Georgia) Funds two principle staff positions: Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist Individualized Career Services to veterans with significant barriers to employment (SBE) Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) Serves as a member of business services team to create or increase employment and training opportunities for veterans www.VETERANS.GOV

8. Prepare:TransitionAssistance Program (TAP) Theservices,training,toolsandsupportatransitioningservicememberneedstomeetCareerReadinessStandards Pre-SeparationCounseling(DoD) Keypoints: - 12monthsout for separations - 24months out for retirements CoreCurriculum • Teachmechanicsofattaining meaningful job • 3-days/classsize:max50 • Tangibleproducts: • IndividualTransitionPlan • Skillsassessment/Jobsearch • Resume/Cover Letters • FY17 • • • • • ResilientTransitions(DoD) • MOCCrosswalk(DoD) • FinancialPlanning(DoD) • EmploymentWorkshop(DOL) • BenefitsBriefing(VA) • SpecializedTracks 6,094workshops/187locations 164,316participants/4,864Guardand Reserve • Curriculumon-line(eBookonAmazon.com) • Annualcurriculumreview • CareerTechnicalTraining(DOL) • AssessingHigherEducation(DoD) • Entrepreneur(SBA) • Capstone • SpousesareeligibletoparticipateinDOL’sEmployment Workshoponaspace-availablebasis • Availableon-line/any-timeat:http://www.dol.gov/vets

9. TAP Statistics • TAP classes are held world-wide • Approximately 180k participants per year • There are 44 TAP sites in the Atlanta Region, accounting for over 25% of the world-wide participant load • Eight (8) sites in Georgia • 363 classes in FY 2018 www.VETERANS.GOV

10. Provide: Employment Services for Veterans (DVOP) • Works at the Individualized Career Service (ICS) level • Provides one-on-one ISC to veterans with significant barriers to employment as defined in ETA TEGL 19-13 • Provides and documents in Case Management files the following: • Comprehensive assessment • Individualized Employment Plan, including appropriate employment services and referrals to partner programs • Follow-up services • May also work with Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program grantees • BottomLine:One-on-One services for veterans most in need • Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) • VETS provides policy and annual funding to over 150 grantees (27 in Region, 5 in GA) • Grantees provide services to expedite the employment of homeless veterans • Average annual placement rate is 68% • May serve specialized populations such as incarcerated or female veterans/veterans with dependent children • HVRP participants MUST be co-enrolled in the AJC system www.nvtac.org

11. Protect: Employment Rights • Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) • VETS administers USERRA with the support of DoD ESGR • Protects employment rights of over 1,000,000 Guard, Reserve and US Veterans • ESGR call center responds annually to over 15,000 inquiries • VETS annually investigates over 900 cases (270 in the Region) • About ¾ of cases have no merit, most merit cases resolved • Claimants can refer cases to Dept. of Justice and Office of Special Counsel • DOJ and OSC satisfactorily resolve most referred cases • Veterans’ Preference in Federal Employment protects veterans’ rights by investigating and attempting to resolve complaints • VETS investigated 419complaints (about 40 in Region) (few cases had merit) • VETS 4212 requires contractors to submit annual data on veteran hiring • 742,469 VETS employed in FY 16 / 1,000,717 in FY 17

12. Promote:Employer OutreachProgram (LVER) • MUST be a part of the local BST per ETA TEGL 19-13 • Perform employer outreach to connectcompanieswithfederal,stateand local resourcesto create or increaseemployment and training opportunities for veterans. • Consultwithcompanieson theirneeds,educatethem onresourcesand assistthem withdeveloping apprenticeshipstoaddressskillgapsandto attract moreveterans. • Coordinateemploymentresourcesandexpertiseacrossbusinesses,employergroups,veterans’ organizations,stateworkforcepartners and government agenciesto promoteveterans’ employmentopportunities. • Educate workforce staff on veterans’ issues to facilitate improved employment services to veterans. • BottomLine:Makeit easier foremployers tofind and hireveterans.

13. Priority of service Priority of service requirements for usdol programs

14. What is Priority of Service?

15. Veterans Priority of Service: DEFINITION “Priority of Service means the right of veterans and eligible spouses to take precedence over a non-covered person in obtaining all employment and training services.” Veterans receive these services earlier in time, or instead of non-covered persons.

16. Priority of Service - Program Requirements Priority of Service is not meant to allow veterans to bypass program requirements. Veterans must be eligible for services under a given program.

17. WIOA Priority of Service vs. Veterans Priority WIOA priority includes recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient. The Local WDB and the Governor may establish a process that also gives priority to other individuals eligible to receive such services, provided that it is consistent with priority of service for veterans (see 20 CFR 680.650) and the priority provisions of WIOA sec. 134(c)(3)(E) and §680.600.

18. WIOA Priority Populations (aka Barriers) The populations included in the “individuals with barriers to employment” in WIOA sec. 3(24) include: (a) Displaced homemakers (as defined in WIOA sec. 3(16)); (b) Low-income individuals (as defined in WIOA sec. 3(36)); (c) Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians (as defined in WIOA sec. 166(b)); (d) Individuals with disabilities, including youth who are individuals with disabilities (as defined in WIOA sec. 3(25) (includes Social Security Disability Insurance); (e) Older individuals (age 55 and older) (as defined in WIOA sec. 3(39)); (f) Ex-offenders (“offender” as defined in WIOA sec. 3(38)); (g) Homeless individuals or homeless children and youths (see Attachment III); 9 (h) Youth who are in or have aged out of the foster care system; (i) Individuals who are: (1) English language learners (WIOA sec. 203(7)), (2) Individuals who have low levels of literacy and (3) Individuals facing substantial cultural barriers; (j) Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers (as defined in WIOA sec. 167(i)(1-3); (k) Individuals within two years of exhausting lifetime TANF eligibility; (l) Single parents (including single pregnant women); (m) Long-term unemployed individuals (unemployed for 27 or more consecutive weeks); and (n) Such other groups as the Governor involved determines to have barriers to employment www.nvtac.org

19. Georgia State WIOA Plan • (Veterans) Priority must be provided in the following order: • First, to veterans and eligible spouses who are also recipients of public assistance, are low income individuals, or who are basic skills deficient. Military earnings are not to be included as income for veterans and transitioning service members. • Second, individuals who are not veterans or eligible spouses who meet WIOA priority criteria. • Third, to veterans and eligible spouses who are not included in WIOA’s priority groups. • Last, to individuals outside the groups given priority under WIOA. This language mirrors that of ETA TEGL 10-09.

20. Priority of Service: SCOPE • Recipients of USDOL funds for job training programs are subject to priority of service regulations, and are required by law to provide priority of service to veterans and eligible spouses. (20 CFR 1010.110). • “Job Training Program” means any program or service for workforce preparation, development, or delivery that is directly funded, in whole or in part, by USDOL. • For the purpose of this guidance, the term “Program Operator" is intended to refer to a recipient or a sub-recipient of USDOL funds for a qualified job training program. • Agreement by a program operator to implement priority of service is a condition of receipt of USDOL funds.

21. Priority of Service: ELIGIBILITY • For priority of service, “Veteran” means a person who served at least one day in the military and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. • Active service includes service in the National Guard or Reserves for Federal duty other than training. • "Eligible spouse" generally means the spouse of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability; is a POW or is MIA; has a total service-connected disability; or who died while disabled from the service-connected disability. • Note that eligibility for Priority is different from JVSG program eligibility

22. Priority of Service: IMPLEMENTATION • States must address priority of service in their comprehensive strategic plan for their workforce investment system and develop policies for the delivery of priority of service by the State Workforce Agency, Local Workforce Investment Boards, and Career Centers for all job training programs delivered through the workforce system. • The policy or policies must require that processes are in place to ensure that veterans and eligible spouses are identified at the point of entry and given an opportunity to take full advantage of priority of service.

23. Priority of Service: IMPLEMENTATION • States’ policies must require each Local Workforce Investment Board to develop and include in its strategic local plan, policies and procedures implementing priority of service for the local One-Stop Career Centers and for service delivery by local workforce preparation and training providers. • Written copies of local priority of service policies should be maintained at all service delivery points and available to the general public.

24. Verifying Veteran Status • It is not appropriate to require verification of veteran status at the point of entry. • Self-attestation is sufficient for access to employment services. • The only services requiring prior verification of eligibility are those that require a commitment of outside resources, such as classroom training. • If documentation is not available, the veteran should be enrolled on a priority basis while waiting on proof of eligibility.

25. Verifying Veteran Status • Status can be verified by referring to the following documents • Form DD-214. • Official VA notice of disability establishing entitlement to rating or compensation. • Official notice from DoD documenting eligibility. • Official notice from the state VA agency of entitlement.

26. What does Veterans Priority of Service look like? • DOL does not dictate to states how to implement veterans priority • Some states/areas provide: • Designated computers in the Resource Room • Veteran sign-in logs • Advance notification of job openings • Other examples?

27. Applying Priority of Service • Universal Access programs – veterans and eligible spouses must receive priority of service over all others. • Programs with Eligibility Criteria – veterans and eligible spouses must first meet eligibility criteria and then receive priority of service within any sub-group. • Statutory Criteria – required by law to provide a priority or preference for a particular group (e.g. low income). Priority of Service applies within the sub-group. • Discretionary Priorities – program includes a focus on serving a particular group without being mandated in law. Priority of Service applies without restriction.

28. Priority of Service: EXAMPLE 1 • For a service such as classroom training, priority of service applies to the selection procedure, as follows: • First, if there is a waiting list for the formation of a training class, priority of service require a veteran or eligible spouse to go to the top of that list. • Second, priority of service applies up to the point at which an individual is both: a) approved for funding; and, b) accepted or enrolled in a training class. • Once a non-covered person has been enrolled in a training class, priority of service is not intended to allow a veteran or eligible spouse who is identified subsequently to "bump" the non-covered person from that training class.

29. Applying Priority of Service • Priority of service requirements for WIOA Priority • Populations are not affected by this guidance; direct recipients of DOL funding remain subject to the priority of service guidance and regulations. (TEGL 19-16) • Priority of service and the JVSG reforms should not be interpreted to limit veterans and eligible spouses to receiving services only from JVSG or other specialized staff. • Procedures or policies that restrict a veteran’s access to WIA or WP services, even if such restrictions are intended to provide the veteran with specialized services, are contrary to the priority of service requirements.

30. Priority of Service: EXAMPLE 2 NOTE: Example uses a hypothetical assistance program with a statutory qualification level of 100% or less of the Federal Poverty Level, while Georgia also allows for participants between 101-200% of FPL to 200% be served. You have four applicants for this training program. Who goes first? Non-veteran who earns 5% of the FPL Veteran who earns 99% of FPL Veteran who earns 180% of FPL Non-veteran who earns 105% of FPL? • Assume all applicants are otherwise qualified.

31. Priority of Service: EXAMPLE 2 • For a program with income-based eligibility, priority of service applies to the selection procedure as follows: • Veteran who earns 99% of FPL • Non-veteran who earns 5% of the FPL • Veteran who earns 180% of FPL • Non-veteran who earns 105% of FPL? • Why?

32. Rule of Thumb All other things being equal, veterans go first (or instead of) non-covered persons.

33. Exclusion of VA Funded Training Allowances • WIOA regulations require the coordination of WIOA funded training with “other grant assistance” (e.g. Pell Grants). • VA funded benefits are not included in the statutory and regulatory category of “other grant assistance.” • Program operators may not require veterans or eligible spouses to exhaust their entitlement to VA funded training benefits prior to enrollment in WIOA.

34. Exemption of Military Service-Related Income • Programs with income criteria in rule or policy must note that most income related to military service is not be considered in eligibility assessments. • Military income • Compensation for service-connected disability/death. • Educational Assistance funds (GI Bill) for Active Military or Reserve members. • Training and rehabilitation payments to disabled veterans. • Survivor’s and dependents’ educational assistance. Military pension benefits are not exempt.

35. Monitoring Priority of Service • US Department of Labor will monitor the implementation and operation of programs to ensure Priority of Service is observed. • Monitoring is the responsibility of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and the agency responsible for the program’s administration and oversight.

36. Atlanta Region Performance: DVOP/W-P/WIOA A/DW Veterans Of those veterans receiving a service - 8 State Region vs (GA)* • Total Veterans served by workforce system staff: 81,831 (18,542 or 27.4%) • Veterans served by DVOP staff: 22,423 (2,651 or 14.3%) • Veterans co-enrolled in WIOA (A/DW): 7,281 or32.5% (107 or 4%) • Veterans receiving training: 1,961 or 26.9% (0) NOTE: W-P and WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker funding = approximately $70m JVSG funding = $6m, including $4m for DVOP (5.7% of combined W-P, WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker funding) *Source: WIPS reporting quarter ending 12/31/18

37. Priority of Service: QUICK REFERENCE TEGL 10-09 (VPL 07-09) • Indicates specific requirements placed on state workforce agencies, WIBs and AJC office staff in implementing Priority of Service for veterans and eligible spouses as they relate to USDOL funded training and employment programs. • Page 4: Eligibility for Priority of Service as a veteran or eligible spouse. • Page 6: Guidance on applying Priority of Service to programs (like WIOA) that have statutory eligibility criteria. In TEGL 10-09, Attachment A • Page 11: Addresses the exclusion of most military income when programs have a low income requirement. • Page 12: Guidance on verification of veteran status and that of eligible spouses. • Page 13: Definition of a veteran for both Priority of Service consideration and for JVSG services, explaining the difference between the two. • Page 13: The exclusion of GI Bill benefits from WIA (now WIOA) consideration with other grant assistance funding.

38. References TEGL 10-09 (with attachments), Implementing Priority of Service for Veterans and Eligible Spouses in all Qualified Job Training Programs Funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) TEGL 19-13, Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (JVSG) Program Reforms and Roles and Responsibilities of American Job Center (AJC) Staff Serving Veterans TEGL 19-16, Guidance on Services provided through the Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service (ES), as amended by title III of WIOA, and for Implementation of the WIOA Final Rules TEN 15-10, Protocol for Implementing Priority of Service for Veterans and Eligible Spouses in all Qualified Job Training Programs Funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) 38 USC § 4215, Priority of Service for Veterans in Department of Labor Job Training Programs 20 CFR 1010, Application of Priority of Service for Covered Persons

39. Questions? Director, Veterans’ Employment and Training (DVET) (Acting) Dr. Matt Heaney (404) 665-4335 Heaney.matthew@dol.gov Regional Administrator, VETS John Savage (404) 665-4340 Savage.john@dol.gov Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Federal Project Officer (FPO) Rachel Floyd-Nelson (404) 302-5400 Floyd-Nelson.Rachel@dol.gov

40. Back-up Slides

41. VeteranDemographics – Veteran as Percentage of Population and Labor Force are Declining Source: US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; data series January 2007 through Jan 2019

42. VeteranDemographics – Labor Force Status of Gulf War II Era vs All Other Eras Source: US Dept of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics; Employment Situation Summary Table A-40, Jan 2019

43. VeteranDemographics – Gulf War II Era by Gender Population: • Female 10-12% and growing • Predominantly younger ages (25-44) In Labor Force: • Higher Labor Participation Rates for both Male & Female Veterans (78-80%) • Higher Employment-Population Ratio Source: US Dept of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics; Employment Situation Summary Table A-40, Jan 2019

44. Labor Demand: Job Openings Inventory Over Time TTU Trade, Transportation & Utilities EHS Education & Health Services PBS Professional Business Services L&H Leisure & Hospitality GOV Government MAN Manufacturing FIN Financial Activities CON Construction OTH Other INF Information M&L Mining & Logging • Job Surplus Inventory ~7M • Low Unemployment; No Slack in Labor Force • Skill Set Mismatch • Geographic Distribution Source: US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; JOLTS data series Jan 2007 through Nov 2018

45. Unemployment and Job Openings Over Time Source: US Dept of Labor, BLS; ESS Table A-40 and JOLTS data series Jan 2007 through Nov 2018

46. Atlanta Region Performance– 9 Months Ago Of those veterans receiving a service – • Total Veterans served by workforce system staff: 83,448 • Veterans served by DVOP staff: 21,652 • Percent of Veterans served by DVOP staff: 25.95% • Veterans co-enrolled in WIOA (Adult/Dislocated): 8,554 • Veterans receiving training: 472 Source: WIPS reporting quarter ending 3/31/18

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48. Provide: Employment Resources and Expertise • DOL funds State Workforce Agencies to operate over 2,400 American Job Centers (AJCs). • The AJCs delivered services and support to over 5.5 million Americans last year. • Almost 400,000 were VETS, Guardsman and Reservists. • VETS funds 1,237 Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program specialists (DVOPs). • VETS funds 515 Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVERs). www.careeronestop.org National Phone Helpline: 1-877-872-5627 www.VETERANS.GOV

49. Provide: Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Partnership • Veteran Affairs (VA) operates a rehabilitation and employment program for disabled veterans called Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E). • Through a Memorandum of Understanding between the VA, VETS and NCWorks VR&E participants must receive NCWorks services – usually from DVOP staff. • Labor Market Information (LMI) is provided after entitlement is established and prior to training and is designed to provide information on employment prospects for specific training. • Employment Services are provided after training is completed and is focused on employment in the career for which the disabled veteran was trained.

50. Executive Order 13832 –Appointments of Military Spouses • On May 9, 2018, President Trump issued Executive Order 13832, “Enhancing Noncompetitive Civil Service Appointments of Military Spouses.” • The Executive Order clarifies, “It shall be the policy of the United States to enhance employment support for military spouses.” • The Executive Order requires agencies to indicate in job opportunity announcements that they will consider candidates under the military spouse hiring authority in addition to competitive or merit promotion methods. • The Executive Order also requires agencies to actively advertise and promote the military spouse hiring authority and to solicit applications from military spouses.