North Carolina will celebrate “Employ A Veteran Week,” Nov. 11-15, and a variety of events before and during that week will help connect Veterans to jobs and other services, Governor Roy Cooper announced today, Nov. 4. 

“Veterans strengthen our communities and enrich our businesses as citizens, skilled workers and leaders,” said Governor Cooper in a press release. “We owe Veterans and their families a deep debt of gratitude for their service, and, as America’s most military and Veteran-friendly state, North Carolina honors them by helping them get good jobs in growing industries.” 

The Department of Commerce, working in close partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, has 50 NCWorks Veterans Services professionals. Their primary mission is to help Veterans find good jobs and training opportunities. These professionals are located across the state at local NCWorks Career Centers, which serve Veterans and other jobseekers, while also helping employers meet their talent needs. In many parts of the state, they also play a key role as partners in Veterans Treatment Courts. The department also partners with North Carolina For Military Employment (NC4ME) on special hiring events. 

"It’s our privilege to serve our Veterans, the more than 20,000 military service members who transition from active duty in North Carolina each year, and their families, through our NCWorks Career Centers and other state programs," said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders in a press release. “The talent found within our military community brings a strong work ethic, leadership experience, adaptability, integrity and specialized training to our workforce—attributes every business needs to be successful—and part of what makes North Carolina such an attractive state for innovative companies.” 

Local events focused on helping Veterans find employment and access other services include: 

• Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland County will hold a Veterans Hiring Event at 490 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC.
• Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Hoke County will hold a Veterans Job Fair at 304 Birch Street, Raeford, NC, with at least four employers, plus Dress for Success. The general public is also welcome.
• Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland County will hold a Veterans Hiring Event at 490 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC.
• Wednesday, Nov. 13 (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland and other partners will present a Women Veterans Career & Resource Fair at Soldier Support Building, 2843 Normandy Drive, Fort Liberty, NC.

Contact information for each career center can be found at www.NCWorks.gov. In addition, Veterans and employers can access services through the NCWorks Veterans Portal at www.veterans.ncworks.gov.

Since 2022, the Commerce department has added a new resource for Veterans, in the form of a national partnership with the Hilton Honors Military Program. Through this partnership, when Veterans, transitioning service-members and qualified military spouses need to travel related to their search for work they may be eligible for free accommodations at a Hilton property. To participate, Veterans should contact or visit their local NCWorks Career Center and ask to speak with a Veterans representative. 

Read the "Employ a Veteran Week" proclamation here.