Why your workforce needs veterans and how to hire them

Executive overview

Veterans face significant barriers re-entering civilian life: loss of purpose, mental health challenges, physical disabilities, and no civilian job-search experience. Yet these same service conditions forge qualities that directly benefit any organisation.

Hiring veterans improves workforce performance, strengthens community reputation, and unlocks federal tax credits up to $9,600 per hire via the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

The military produces disciplined, adaptable, high-pressure performers — and most organisations are overlooking them.

Challenges veterans face when leaving service

• 27–44% report difficult transitions from military to civilian life
• Loss of mission-driven purpose makes civilian roles feel less significant
• Military camaraderie is hard to replicate; isolation is common
• PTSD, depression, and substance abuse inhibit job-seeking; unemployment raises depression rates from 27% to 40%
• Physical disabilities disproportionately affect low-income veterans
• Many never applied for a civilian job before — resume translation is a real barrier

Why veterans make strong hires

• Teamwork: trained to trust and depend on unit members under life-or-death conditions
• Work ethic: sustained through years of demanding service; can motivate those around them
• Discipline and organisation: structured habits translate directly to workplace reliability
• Adaptability: accustomed to plans failing and shifting quickly under pressure
• Composure under pressure: experienced in high-stakes environments that require focus over panic
• Follows instructions: trained to receive orders, act precisely, and seek guidance on next steps

How to start hiring veterans

• Contact a local Veterans Employment Representative to connect with regional and national resources
• Set up a mentorship program — signals a welcoming environment and aids adjustment beyond the role itself
• Post open roles on U.S. Department of Labor veteran job boards; use applicant tracking to organise outreach
• Build an apprenticeship program to develop new skills and create broader training infrastructure
• Apply for WOTC credits ($2,400–$9,600 per qualifying veteran hire) — eligibility criteria linked via DOL resources