New SHRM Research Spotlights Veterans as America’s Hidden Talent Advantage
Released ahead of Veterans Day, findings highlight how employers can fill critical skills gaps and build stronger teams by engaging former service members.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – New analysis from SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, workers, and the workplace, reveals while America’s veteran workforce continues to shrink, it remains one of the most skilled, experienced, and leadership-ready segments of the labor market. These findings underscore a significant opportunity for employers to strengthen their organizations by hiring and developing veterans, particularly as businesses continue to face ongoing skills shortages and talent gaps.
The Labor Force Snapshot: Veterans in the U.S. Labor Force report shows how the veteran labor force has declined by more than 40% since 2000, even as veterans maintain education levels comparable to nonveterans and are more likely to hold professional certifications. The data also found veterans consistently experiencing lower unemployment rates than nonveterans, emphasizing the need to target this pool of untapped talent.
“Veterans and the military community are one of America’s most valuable untapped talent pools,” said Wendi Safstrom, President of the SHRM Foundation. “At SHRM Foundation, we are committed to empowering employers to recognize and harness the full potential of veterans and their families and caregivers through efforts like our Military Community at Work initiative and our Military Community Ambassadors program. We will continue to honor our service members and work to connect them to quality job opportunities.”
Additional Key Findings Include:
Veterans make up roughly 5% of the overall employed population, with the largest concentrations found in industries closely aligned with military-acquired skills such as:
Public administration (14.6%) and utilities (10.1%) – the highest industry concentrations.
Protective service (16.4%) and installation, maintenance, and repair (10.9%) – the highest occupational concentrations.
Veterans are significantly more likely to experience a disability at any age.
People aged 16 to 54 being more than twice as likely to develop a disability than nonveterans (15.2 % vs. 6.3%) – highlighting the importance of workplace flexibility and inclusive practices.
As employers continue to navigate a competitive labor market, SHRM’s findings reinforce the business case for engaging and supporting former service members – not only as an act of recognition but as a strategic workforce investment.
To explore SHRM’s research or learn more about SHRM Foundation programs supporting veterans and the broader military community, please visit shrm.org/research or shrm.org/foundation/widening-pathways-to-work.
Methodology
Findings in this report are based on SHRM analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey (CPS) covering January 2000 through August 2025. Analyses of historical trends rely on BLS-published CPS data series, while detailed tabulations use public-use CPS microdata accessed through IPUMS CPS at the University of Minnesota. The analysis compares veterans and nonveterans ages 18 and older across key labor market indicators, including labor force participation, employment status, education, and occupation. All estimates are not seasonally adjusted.
About SHRM
SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.
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