For many Americans, Labor Day is a symbolic end of the summer season. It’s a time to kick back with cookouts and parades. For me, this Labor Day is an opportunity to recognize the contributions working men and women currently in or transitioning from military service have made to protect and strengthen the peace and prosperity of the country.

Not only do our men and women in uniform make tireless sacrifices on our behalf, they also provide an enormous talent pool for employers. Veterans are among the most qualified and committed job candidates. They bring transferable skills that are proven in real world situations, grasp new concepts quickly and work well both independently and as part of a team. All are highly prized skills in today’s workplace.

As combat operations wind down in Iraq and elsewhere, many military personnel are looking forward to returning home and finding employment in their fields of specialty. Unfortunately, like many others who have been laid off or cannot find work, many veterans are struggling to land a job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nationwide unemployment rate for veterans is 8.1 percent, and it is 8.3 percent in Hawaii. These are unacceptable rates. So, I have asked the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service at the Department of Labor (DOL) — and all at DOL — to make helping veterans a priority.

That effort includes our work on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, which protects the rights of returning military by increasing awareness of and commitment to the employment rights of service members.

We are also investing in the future through the Jobs for Veterans State Grants: $150 million has already gone to support local and state groups that provide education and training to returning service personnel. This investment includes our Transition Assistance Program, which provides service members with a solid foundation of knowledge and tools to transition successfully into the civilian workforce, especially into emerging "green" jobs. In 2009 alone, more than 120,000 transitioning service members attended TAP workshops.

We also have a Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP). It provides job training and placement services for homeless veterans. HVRP has an additional emphasis on homeless female veterans and veterans with families, and it funds several local organizations, including the Mental Health Association in Hawaii and the United States Veterans Initiative.

We are encouraging private sector companies to hire more veterans. We are forging relationships with major organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and we are asking CEOs to hire more of our military men and women.

Last but not least, because on-the-ground contact is a big part of success for any effort, we are also empowering our local veterans employment representatives (LVERs) to do even more. For instance, right in Hawaii, LVER Donn Mitsuyuki saw a job possibility in the Hawaiian mountainside for an unemployed veteran with Special Forces training. Donn helped the vet rewrite his resume, highlighting his zip line training experience, and faxed it to island adventure companies, resulting in several promising interviews. Donn’s efforts exemplify the kind of standout service the department and its partners provide to our military. And, I am proud to know DOL is helping to make a positive difference in Hawaii.

As you can imagine, Hawaii is a special state for my department. Not only is President Barack Obama a son of Hawaii, Raymond Jefferson, my assistant secretary for VETS is also Hawaii born — and the former deputy director for the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Ray, a West Point graduate who lost all five fingers on his left hand in a military training accident, is a national advocate for veterans’ employment. He works tirelessly to provide our servicemen and women with job opportunities and job training resources to succeed in the 21st century workforce.

Like President Obama, Ray Jefferson and I — and everyone else at the Department of Labor — will continue to work passionately and innovatively to help our service men and women. Together, we will keep building a better future for those who wear the uniform, and for our nation as a whole.