He touted a program that helps service members find work.
Quinn was joined by veterans and labor leaders in Grant Park as he spoke about the Helmets to Hardhats program.
The program helps veterans learn the skills they need to find jobs in construction.
The head of the program says it puts the skills and training taxpayers have already paid for to work.
"We have the best equipped military force in the world, the most technologically advanced, and yet when they return, they can't find gainful career opportunities," said Mike Yauger of Teamsters Local 786. "That's what Helmets to Hardhats is for."
There are currently more than 157,000 Helmets to Hardhats candidates registered. They can access listings for more than 80,000 jobs.
