Employment

Veterans may face significant barriers that make it difficult for them to find suitable employment, when transitioning back into civilian life. Currently, NC Government is the single largest employer in the State. Veterans and disabled veterans receive preference when applying for state, county and local government jobs in North Carolina.

 “It shall be the policy of the State of North Carolina that, in appreciation for their service to this State and this country during a period of war, and in recognition of the time and advantage lost toward the pursuit of a civilian career, veterans shall be granted preference in employment with every State department, agency, and institution. “ ~NCGS 126-80, Article 13

One example of the State’s efforts to resolve veteran’s unemployment problem is (NC4ME).

North Carolina for Military Employment (NC4ME) is a comprehensive public-private partnership designed to make NC the number one state for military employment. Established by the Governor in 2015, NC4ME leverages existing workforce development resources and technology to implement an employer-centric strategy that:

• Educates NC’s business leaders on the value of hiring a military workforce,
• Shows small businesses and human resource professionals how to hire military personnel, and
• Connects military talent to open jobs, education, and training opportunities in North Carolina.

By centering its focus on the "demand side" of the employment equation, NC4ME serves as a perfect complement to the vast number of programs currently preparing veterans for civilian employment and gives a much needed boost to military job seekers in North Carolina. More than just the "right thing" to do, hiring veterans drives business results for North Carolina's employers and economic growth for our state. Please join us as we help NC businesses to better utilize the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our veterans and service members. Together we will make North Carolina the #1 state for military employment.

Steering Committee:

Larry Hall
Deputy Commissioner, Industrial Commission

Lt. Gen. Gary McKissock
US Marine Corps. (Ret)
​NC Military Affairs Commission

Major General Rodney Anderson
President and CEO
LDR Consulting

​Major General M. Todd Hunt
Adjutant General
NC National Guard

BG (Ret) JR Gorham
Owner, the Gorham Group, LLC

Mark Edmonds
Chief Operating Officer,
NC Department of Commerce – DWS

David Long
President, Long Beverage

James Banner
Vice President
Pike Corporation

Binu Thomas
Senior Vice President
MetLife Global Technology & Operations

Ed Paradise
RTP Site Executive, VP of Trustworthy Systems Engineering,
Security & Trust Organization, Cisco Systems

Ron Bogle
National Chair
Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve

Paul Friday
Executive Director
NCVF & DANC

Kimberly Williams
Founder & CEO, NC4ME
CHO, City of Jacksonville

Stuart Ruffin
Chief Financial Officer
RDI-USA

Leadership Team:

Kimberly Williams
Executive Director, NC4ME
CHO, City of Jacksonville

Sean Cox
Director of Operations
NC4ME

​Rebecca Sotirkys
Program Manager, NC4ME
N.C. Department of Commerce

Alex Skelton
Outreach Manager and Program Assistant, NC4ME
N.C. Department of Commerce

Alicia Mock
Program Coordinator
Onward to Opportunity

​Keith Warzon
Director, Employment Center
NC National Guard​

James Simpson
Project Manager
NC for Military Employment

John Herath
General Manager for Talent Acquisition
Barfield Revenue

Victor Glover
Director, Veteran Employment Services
N.C. Department of Commerce

Gabriela Gonzalez
Assistant Director
Veterans Employment Services, NC Department of Commerce

Chris Hall
National Co-Lead VETS ERO
Cisco

Ed Hamilton
Vice Chair
ESGR

NC Works

Veteran Services

Home to nearly 800,000 veterans and several major military installations, North Carolina has a distinguished history in serving the U.S. military, veterans, and their families. The N.C. Division of Workforce Solutions provides job seeker services for veterans, transitioning service members, and eligible spouses.

How It Works

Veterans can visit their NCWorks Career Center and take advantage of the following no-cost services:

• Career assessments
• Labor market information
• Access to training opportunities, job fairs, and workshops
• Job interview preparation
• Resume and cover letter assistance
• Assistance with NCWorks Online
• Access to computers and free Internet service
• Help applying for federal employment and training programs in which veterans receive priority of service

Some veterans face significant barriers that make it difficult for them to find suitable employment, especially vets who are transitioning into civilian life. Most offices have specialized staff—all of whom are veterans—who work closely with employers to create more opportunities for veterans and provide the following services to veterans themselves:

• Help developing an employability plan and goals
• Coaching in individual and group settings
• Referrals to supportive services, including vocational rehabilitation, transportation, elder care, food and nutrition services, and non-profit organizations that address homelessness

The following criteria are considered significant barriers to employment:

• Disabilities
• Homelessness
• Unemployed for at least 27 weeks
• Criminal background (released within the last 12 months)
• No high school diploma or GED
• Low income
• Between 18-24 years old

NCWorks Online

The state’s official job-search website, NCWorks Online gives veterans access to job postings for 24 hours before they are made available to the general public. The system provides information on training opportunities, local services, and other resources available to veterans. Employers can also search exclusively for candidates who are veterans.

NCWorks Apprenticeships

Veterans participating in NCWorks Apprenticeships can continue to draw benefits from the GI Bill, even though they are employed as part of an apprenticeship. Learn more about apprenticeships.

How to Apply

Contact your NCWorks Career Center to find out more about other resources, programs, and services available.

Veterans can also use NCWorks Online to look for jobs and training opportunities in their areas. Registration is free.

NC Licensing Boards

NC is now offering Veterans with certain Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) credit toward several NC License occupations.  In reference to NC General Assembly Session Law 2014-67, License Boards representing several NC License occupations have been required to provide a process to recognize military training in pursuing a licensed occupation in NC. 

NC Licensing Boards Directory and Contact (see page 189 in the Resource Guide)