Approximately 350 veterans, along with spouses of active military service people, had an opportunity to talk face to face with recruiters about job opportunities and pass their resumes to 50 participating employers, including Campbell Soup Company, American Water Company, Cooper Hospital, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Comcast.

These employers had a combined 2,800 available positions to offer the participating veterans. Additionally, 10 partner agencies were also on hand to discuss career options and provide guidance on veteran-specific resources available through state agencies.

“We recognize and honor the sacrifices our veterans have made, and we are committed to dedicating the resources we have available to help them reach their career and employment goals when they come home,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. “I’ve had the opportunity to attend several career-focused events for our veterans, and I am proud of the efforts the Garden State is making to transition our military men and women returning to civilian life.”

The Christie Administration has maintained a commitment to support New Jersey’s veterans, and last month launched Operation:  Hire a Jersey Hero at a symposium at Prudential Financial’s headquarters in Newark. The event focused on connecting employers who want to hire veterans with the state and federal agencies that can introduce them to former military people who need jobs and connect employers to incentive programs available to train veterans for civilian work.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which organized the Newark employer event and the battleship job fair, has served more than 16,000 veterans this past year at its 34 One-Stop Career Centers throughout the state.

“After honorably serving our country and fighting overseas, we want to make sure our servicemen and servicewomen do not have to fight the battle of unemployment when they come home,” said Labor Commissioner Harold J. Wirths. “That’s why my department has diligently worked to provide our returning veterans with the tools to assess their skills, give them the training and resources they need to find a job, help them discover a new career or aid them in improving their skills.”

As of 2011, New Jersey was home to 430,000 veterans, age 20 and older, according to the latest Current Population Survey (CPS) report, which is compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of those veterans, 209,000 were counted as being in the state labor force and 186,000 of them were listed as employed.

“It is fitting that we hold an event that will showcase the skills of men and women who have served their nation with distinction on a vessel that served America with equal distinction in nearly every major conflict of the past half century," said Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, The Adjutant General.

For more information about veteran services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development go to www.Jobs4Jersey.com  or send an e-mail to Jobs4JerseyVets@dol.state.nj.us.

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Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno (right) joined Commissioner Harold J. Wirths (2^nd right) Department of Labor and Workforce Development,  Dana L. Redd (2^nd left)  Mayor of the City of Camden and Brigadier General Michael L. Cunniff,(far left) The Adjutant General, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in hosting a special Veterans Job Fair aboard the USS New Jersey on Friday May18, 2012