Dive Brief:
- An overwhelming majority of veterans in a new survey said they favor investments in skills and technical training over other economic policies. ALG Research, on behalf of the National Skills Coalition, polled 700 veterans, 95% of whom said they strongly support or somewhat support increasing investments in training, over other policies like a $15 minimum wage or a guaranteed job. The same percentage of respondents said they believe such programs would help them transition back into civilian life and land good-paying jobs.
- Veterans also overwhelmingly supported training proposals that would forge closer ties between businesses and community colleges and provide tax incentives to businesses offering training.
- Additionally, 41% said they felt unprepared to enter the civilian job market after returning from active duty. That number was higher for vets without a college degree and among veterans of color and female veterans.
Dive Insight:
Employers have in recent years discovered that veterans may be a valuable untapped talent pool, but the demographic's employment numbers haven't caught up to those of the general population.
A recent LinkedIn study found that while unemployment among veterans is down, veterans are still 34% more likely to be underemployed. Researches attributed this to a disconnect between veterans' skills and how the labor market perceives them, leading some former service members to be hired for jobs that are below their capabilities. With many veterans in the LinkedIn study expressing a desire to pursue a career other than the one they had in the military, a greater investment in jobs, skills and technical training could enable them to transition their skills.
Some stakeholders have already taken such action: A recently announced collaboration between Randstad US and CISCO will offer training and resources to veterans to attract them to cybersecurity careers and help close the skills gap associated with the profession. These kinds of partnerships, which the veterans in the National Skills Coalition survey referenced, are on the rise as entities come together to provide workers and those entering or re-entering the workforce with educational opportunities, training and resources to help them meet labor market demands.
