The Business Case for Hiring Veterans and Military Spouses
Veterans, as well as their family members and caregivers, are valuable members of our workforce. They have in-demand skills that are strengthened by their experiences with military service. Yet a large portion of veterans and military spouses are unemployed or underemployed and represent untapped talent for workplaces.
They have the “hard” skills employers need:
80%
of HR professionals say veterans have the educational backgrounds they need
78%
of HR professionals say veterans have the necessary technical expertise
Military spouses are highly educated
Roughly 10% of military spouses have a master’s degree, MBA, or professional degree
They have the “soft” skills that are even more important today:
96%
of HR professionals say veterans are uniquely trained to work through chaotic times
85%
of HR professionals, managers and senior-level leaders reported positive experiences working with military spouses
63%
of HR professionals say veterans are more resilient remote/virtual workers compared to civilians
Barriers Veterans and Their Families Face
Members of the military community face significant barriers to finding meaningful, long-term employment.
The emergence of COVID-19 has contributed to those barriers greatly—with veteran unemployment rising to 11.8% in April 2020*.
Despite the unique skills and value they bring to employers, the vast majority of veterans report they have faced obstacles in attaining employment.**
* COVID-19 Military Support Initiative (CMSI) Pain Points Poll
**Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. (2016). Veteran Job Retention Survey
Why Hire Veterans
of HR professionals say that the talent pool of veterans is embedded with diversity of gender, race, and age.*
of HR professionals say that veterans are uniquely trained to work through chaotic times.*
of HR professionals say that, compared to civilians, veterans are more resilient remote/virtual workers.*
of HR professionals, managers and senior-level leaders reported positive experiences working with military spouses.**
Learn More About the Benefits of Military Hiring
Through the Veterans at Work initiative, SHRM Foundation works directly with HR professionals, people managers, and business leaders to break down barriers from within the hiring process and improve supports for veterans, military families, and caregivers throughout the employment lifecycle.
Veterans at Work Initiative Builds Business Case for an Untapped Talent Pool
Judith Tavano, a seasoned human resources (HR) professional, knows that employers struggle to find qualified talent… Read More
Veterans: A Force Worth Keeping in Your Workforce
Veterans and members of the military community bring many strengths to the private sector workforce….Read More
How to Hire and Retain Veterans
How does it benefit my organization to hire veterans? The Business Case for Hiring Veterans, Institute for Veterans and Military Families… Read More
Programs and Resources
SHRM Foundation, in conjunction with our partners and contributors, has developed the Veterans at Work program to provide HR professionals, people managers, and business leaders with proven educational content and resources, at no cost, to learn effective ways to reduce barriers and stigmas affecting the employment of veterans and their families.
Together, we provide free resources that help HR professionals implement better employment practices for military families in their workplace.
Veterans Ambassador Program
Veterans at Work Certificate
Employing Veterans: Digital Toolkit
Wendi Safstrom
Executive Director, SHRM Foundation
“The SHRM Foundation knows veterans are valuable members of our workforce, and our Veterans at Work initiative will help HR professionals attract, hire and retain members of the military community.”
Harriet Dominique
Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Corporate Responsibility Officer & President, USAA Foundation, Inc.
“Members of the military community bring unique skill sets, diverse backgrounds and leadership to our workplaces. SHRM and SHRM Foundation are doing important work to help recruit, hire and retain these individuals into meaningful and impactful roles by equipping hiring companies with the tools and resources needed to establish and grow military hiring programs within their organizations. USAA and the USAA Foundation, Inc. are committed to improving lives in the military wherever they are in their journeys.”
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