Once they leave service life, many veterans, particularly those from the post-9/11 period and in the 18 to 24 age group, are having trouble integrating into the civilian workforce.

A recent survey found one in five vets are unemployed and currently seeking employment, a rate that translates to roughly 20 percent unemployment. Among the younger demographic group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the unemployment has soared to as high as 30 percent.Veterans need networking skills in order to compete. The survey found that finding that first real job as a civilian was the top challenge in transitioning to the civilian world. The second top challenge is navigating the VA and related benefit systems.If veterans are to succeed in civilian endeavors, their development, education, mentoring and assistance become essential. Online resources are available, including militaryhire.com and military.com transition center.The military.com site is easy to navigate and offers valuable career advice, including a job search tool kit and advice on interview tips and resume writing. Veterans are able to find military friendly jobs by simply selecting a location region such as the Allentown or Wilkes-Barre areas.There's also an updated list for job fairs. A quick check found that there will be a veterans expo and job fair at Camp Hill on Aug. 20.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently launched a financial coaching program aimed at the 250,000 service members who leave active duty every year. Based out of job centers and nonprofits around the country, 60 financial coaches will be available to meet with veterans to help them with their finances. The coaching services are provided for free, and information can be found on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.Last month in Harrisburg, the state Senate passed a bill designed to streamline certification and licensing processes for veterans and help match them with good-paying jobs faster.The state House had unanimously passed House Bill 157, which was introduced by Rep. Doyle Heffley from Carbon County in February. Act 23 of 2015 requires state agencies to take into account service members' military service, education, training and military experience for licensing or certification requirements. Preventing duplicate state certification requirements can now help the veterans transition to a civilian career faster and with greater ease.Heffley explained in a statement that many service members have a hard time finding jobs after returning from the military because of redundant training and certification requirements. The new law will ensure that service members' military education and training are taken into account when applying for certain professional licenses and credentials.Both education and experience are essential in job seeking. Fortunately for veterans, there are online resources available along with concerned representatives like Heffley to help in the transition.By JIM ZBICKtneditor@tnonline.com