St. Paul – The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) will co-host the 17th Annual Veterans Career Fair on May 3 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center. The event will showcase nearly 100 veteran-friendly employers and provide additional resources including a complimentary LinkedIn photography station, resume review, mock interviews, and more. Current and former members of the U.S. military, their spouses and Gold Star families are invited to participate.

The Veterans Career Fair kicks off Hire a Veteran Month, as proclaimed by Governor Tim Walz. Throughout the month of May, DEED, MDVA and other state and local agencies will draw attention to the great value veterans bring to Minnesota employers.

"Current and former members of the U.S. military are an essential pillar of Minnesota's workforce," said Temporary DEED Commissioner Kevin McKinnon. "DEED was honored to be named a Yellow Ribbon Organization last year for its efforts to recruit, hire and retain employees who are military veterans. Not only do we proudly hire veterans, but we also work to ensure veterans find success in their careers."

In order to become a Yellow Ribbon Organization, an organization needs to develop a sustainable action plan demonstrating a long-term commitment to current and former U.S. military service members and their families. DEED was proud to become a Yellow Ribbon Organization on May 18, 2022.

"We want to thank all the great Minnesota employers who acknowledge the unique value those who currently serve or have served in the military bring to their organizations' teams," said MDVA Interim Commissioner Brad Lindsay. "Hiring a veteran is a great decision for an organization's success. Military service not only provides high-tech training and real-world experience, but it also builds character skills like integrity, leadership, teamwork, and commitment to getting the job done right."

There are currently 266,000 veterans living in Minnesota, nearly 115,000 of whom are of working age. The CareerForce Veterans Employment Services team at DEED provides veterans with dedicated career exploration, job search, and networking support. During the last fiscal year, CareerForce Veterans Employment Services served 510 veterans, and 84% successfully exited the program with an average exit wage of $26.87 an hour. For more information on CareerForce Veteran Employment Services, visit the Veterans Resource page on CareerForceMN.com

Nearly 100 employers are taking part in the Veterans Career Fair, including Arvig, AVA, Cargill, Koch Companies, Land O'Lakes Inc., The Transportation Security Administration, Nuss Truck & Equipment, Polaris, Mediacom, Wipaire, and more. For more information on the Veterans Career Fair, visit CareerForceMN.com.