Gov. Phil Bredesen recently declared November as "Hire Vets First Month" in an attempt to encourage employers to hire military veterans.

"Our veterans have developed the business skills, work ethic, and sense of purpose that is gained from military service, which makes them valuable employees for any organization," Bredesen said. "We owe them our continued support when they return to civilian life."

A campaign, dubbed Hire Vets First, has been launched, with Tennessee Career Centers serving as the main location where employers can connect with veterans who are transitioning from military service to civilian careers.

"I encourage employers to hire a veteran when they have a job opening," Labor Commissioner James Neeley said. "When a company hires a veteran they are not only recognizing the commitment men and women have made to our nation, but they are also recognizing the qualities veterans bring to the workplace."

Each career center throughout Tennessee is home to a knowledgeable veteran's representative who can provide one-on-one service for veterans. Services include employment-related testing, training information, skills assessment, assistance with job referral, job search techniques and local job market information.

Veterans also can ask for additional help with resumes, interviewing skills, job hunting techniques and referrals to other veteran organizations.

From 2008 to 2009, Tennessee Career Centers have provided:

• 40,522 veterans with staff-assisted services
• 30,117 veterans with Workforce Information Services
• 18,649 veterans with employment referral opportunities

In addition, Tennessee Career Centers have seen 63 percent of veterans enter employment and 82 percent of veterans retain employment, while 61 percent of civilian population referrals have entered employment and 78 percent of civilian population referrals have retained employment.

The Wagner-Peyser Act, which Congress passed in 1933, established federally-funded agencies such as Tennessee Career Centers to provide "priority of service" to veterans, including priority referral to jobs and training as well as special employment services and assistance.

During September, the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin area saw its unemployment rate decrease from 9.7 percent to 9.3 percent, which is slightly lower than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent. This is the first time the area's unemployment rate has decreased since July, when it went from 10 percent to 9.6 percent.

The area had a total non-farm employment of 728,300 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 727,700 workers during August, but a 4.2 percent decrease from last year.

Four industries saw an increase in employment on a monthly basis, including professional and business services by 400 jobs, education and health services by 500 jobs, other services by 300 jobs and government by 2,800 jobs. The information industry employed 20,300 workers, the same as during August.

Only one industry added jobs on a yearly basis. The education and health services industry employed 112,200 workers during September, which is up from 111,700 workers during August and a .6 percent increase from last year.

The manufacturing industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. That industry employed 64,000 workers during September, which is down from 64,600 workers during August and a 12 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw a year-over-year decrease in employment include:

• mining, logging and construction by 11.9 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 3.6 percent
• information by 3.8 percent
• financial activities by 2.2 percent
• professional and business services by 7.3 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 2.6 percent
• other services by 2.6 percent
• government by 1.8 percent

Indeed.com recently reported that in Nashville, there were five unemployed job seekers for every open position during August, which is an increase from July, when there were four job seekers for every position.

Among the top 50 metropolitan areas, Nashville ranked 33rd for its ratio of unemployed workers to jobs. Washington, D.C. and Baltimore had the least amount of competition for jobs, while Detroit and Miami had the most competition.

The number of online job postings for most major industries in Nashville decreased by about one-third when compared to last year. The construction industry, which has been hit hard by the recession, saw a 13 percent over-the-year decrease in Nashville and a 22 percent over-the-year decrease throughout Tennessee.

Job postings for opportunities in healthcare and real estate saw less of a decrease than most other industries. Postings for education jobs, on the other hand, increased when compared to last year.

On a slightly more promising note for job seekers, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently announced that the state's unemployment rate decreased from 10.7 percent to 10.5 percent during September.

"Tennessee's unemployment rate continues to show stabilization with no significant change over the last five months," Labor Commissioner James Neeley said.

Despite the decline in unemployment, Tennessee still lost some jobs on a month-to-month and yearly basis. The state had a total non-farm employment of 2,649,000 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 2,649,800 workers during August and a 4.2 percent decrease from last year.

The Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin area, however, managed to add some jobs on a monthly basis. The area had a total non-farm employment of 728,300 workers during September, which is up from 727,700 workers during August, but a 4.2 percent decrease from last year. The unemployment rate for the area has not yet been released.