WSET.com / Reporter: Lauren Compton

Lynchburg, VA - The job market is tough for our military men and women, but help could be on the way.

This week the Senate approved a part of President Obama's jobs package to help veterans. Part of the President's plan offers tax credits to businesses that hire vets.

Many veterans are now fighting a much different battle to find a job. It's something Steve Bozeman hears all the time from vets.

"They are still like everybody else, the economy out here is just not hiring people," said Bozeman.

The unemployment rate for veterans is about 12%. It's 30% for veterans serving in Iraq or Afghanistan between the ages of 18 to 24, which is more than the national average of 9%.

But some say there is hope.

"There definitely are a lot of military friendly employers in the area. There is a deep respect in Central Virginia for veterans," said Jeffry Harrison, Sgt. 116th Infantry.

Sgt. Harrison was back from Afghanistan for eight months before finally finding a job working security. He says his service worked to his advantage.

"If you tell an employer that you have served in Iraq, they automatically know that you're a hard worker, you are probably a good person," said Harrison.

Some of most attractive jobs to veterans are in law enforcement or public safety. Officials in police and fire departments say veterans make strong candidates.

"Hiring somebody that has been in military, we typically get a more mature person and generally has some general knowledge skills," said Greg Wormser, a battalion chief with the Lynchburg Fire Department.

A lot of veterans have degrees or technical skills, which are key in getting a leg up in the job market.

As most veterans know, fighting the battle of the job market means never giving up.

"They just have to hustle. Veterans are that way, they know how to hustle. They have to just keep hammering at it," said Bozeman.

There are dozens of companies in Virginia that are looking for veterans.

You can find these businesses here or here.