Pennsylvania commission hosts discussion on veteran outreach, hiring
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently hosted a collaborative discussion with utilities and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) in an effort to advance the hiring of military veterans in the public utility sector.
“Our veterans are talented and dedicated individuals who have already demonstrated an ability to tackle the most challenging tasks,” Commissioner David W. Sweet said. “It is important that we coordinate public and private efforts to reach these talented men and women – highlighting best practices and lessons learned in both the utility and government sectors in order to create more opportunities for veterans and ensure a skilled workforce to meet the utility needs of the future.”
The group is seeking to increase connections between utility human resources department and L&I. It also aims to clarify the applicability of military training to the utility sector, promote apprenticeship and job training opportunities and improve recruiting practices.
“Helping veterans find employment is one of the most important and rewarding things we do at the Department of Labor & Industry,” L&I Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Eileen Cipriani said. “We’re proud to offer job seeker and other veteran services at the 59 PA CareerLink locations statewide. In addition, our Apprenticeship and Training Office helps veterans access training programs that allow them to earn while they learn.”
The Pennsylvania collaborative effort is part of a nationwide initiative launched by National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) President and Pennsylvania Commissioner Robert F. Powelson.
