This Thursday in Jacksonville, veterans and their spouses will have the chance to find a new career at a job fair at Everbank Stadium. The job fair hosted by Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) and RecruitMilitary promises more than 50 employers looking to hire.

Ryan Burgos is the National Employment Director for DAV and an Army veteran of the Iraq war. He says organizers chose Jacksonville because it’s is where the veterans are. And they know veterans bring skills to the table.

“Employers are noticing that they’re not having to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an annual basis to train leaders,” Burgos says.

For one thing, employers want workers who show up to work on time.

“You can count on us. When you hire a veteran, not only are you gonna get somebody that’s gonna be on time every single day of the week, but you’re getting a leader, someone to train the rest of your staff,” Burgos says.

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And in Jacksonville, more veterans than average are finding work. According to a new report the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week, the unemployment rate for veterans in the U.S. was at 3.6% in September, up from 2.6% in July. But, Burgos says, the Jacksonville area has a 1.9% unemployment rate for veterans, which is also lower than the rates in Orlando and Tampa.

The job fair is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, on the second level of Everbank Stadium’s East Club. Parking will be in Lot C with overflow parking in Lot D on the east side of the stadium. Metal detectors and bag screenings will be part of the security process.

Register here to attend the free event.

Lead image: Military veterans run out on the field at EverBank Stadium. | AP Photo,Phelan M. Ebenhack