SHRM Research Underscores Veterans' Value in the Workforce, Highlights Urgent Need for Better Hiring Strategies

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Today, SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, and the SHRM Foundation, released its latest research report, Completing the Mission: Best Practices for Recruiting and Hiring Veterans, aimed at helping organizations more effectively attract, hire, and retain veteran talent. Each year, approximately 200,000 U.S. service members transition to civilian life, bringing with them invaluable skills. However, many organizations face challenges in translating these military skills into civilian roles.

Supported by USAA, this report, part of the SHRM Foundation’s Untapped Talent programs and Military Community at Work (MCAW) initiative, sheds light on the obstacles HR professionals encounter in veteran hiring and provides actionable strategies to help organizations overcome these challenges.

“Veterans bring not just a wealth of skills, but stories of resilience, leadership, and service that enrich the civilian workforce in profound ways,” said Wendi Safstrom, President of the SHRM Foundation. “Our report highlights the critical need for employers to support them as they navigate their new environments and careers. By offering thoughtful strategies, we’re helping organizations create workplaces where veterans can thrive, feel valued, and continue to make a meaningful impact beyond their military service.”

Key Findings from the Report:

• Veteran Work Ethic & Skills: 
  • 98% of HR professionals agreed veterans can thrive in both team-based and individual settings.
  • Most HR professionals said that veterans outperform civilian employees in key areas such as work ethic (68%), teamwork (61%), and leadership (58%).

• Challenges in Translating Skills:
  • 23% of HR professionals reported that difficulty aligning veterans' skills with civilian job requirements is a major challenge their organization faces when recruiting and hiring veterans.
  • Only 2% of HR professionals reported using military skills translation tools to help, despite the availability of these tools and despite the research finding these tools can be effective in helping to bridge this gap.

• Formal Hiring Programs Make a Difference:   
  • Organizations with formal veteran recruiting/hiring programs are significantly more effective at hiring veterans.
  • 65% of HR professionals from companies with formal programs agree or strongly agree their organization is effective at hiring veterans, compared to only 42% of those with informal programs and 21% of those without a program.

"At USAA, nearly 25% of our employees are either veterans or military spouses,” said Corie Pauling, Executive Director of Talent Diversity at USAA. “We’ve seen so many of these colleagues prove to be incredible leaders, work well under pressure and are extremely adaptable. We hope this research will further advocacy and inspire business leaders to not just consider the military community for job opportunities but also create programs focused on veteran hiring.”

Business Case for Hiring Veterans: Veterans possess highly sought-after skills, making them valuable assets in a wide range of industries. The SHRM Foundation’s report shows veterans often outperform civilian employees in areas such as teamwork, leadership, and work ethic, and organizations with veteran recruitment programs are significantly more effective at leveraging this talent pool.

Actionable Insights: The report offers practical steps for HR professionals to strengthen their veteran hiring initiatives. These include leveraging military skills translation tools, developing formal recruitment programs, and creating supportive hiring practices that help veterans transition successfully into civilian roles.

Call to Action: The SHRM Foundation urges HR professionals, business leaders, and hiring managers to utilize this research to better understand the veteran talent pool and implement proven strategies to enhance their recruitment efforts. By doing so, organizations can tap into a resilient and high-performing workforce, ultimately driving organizational success.

About the SHRM Foundation

SHRM Foundation empowers Human Resources as a force for social good. As the nonprofit arm of SHRM, the world's largest HR professional society, the Foundation believes that HR holds a unique position to lead change in the face of complex challenges within the world of work. The organization mobilizes and equips HR to ensure the prosperity and thriving of talent and workplaces. The Foundation works by widening pathways to work for more skills-first candidates and more kinds of talent; tackling societal challenges, with a current focus on workplace mental health and wellness; and strengthening the HR field with even more diversity, growth, and readiness to address these needs. SHRM Foundation works with SHRM, courageous partners, and bold investors to generate awareness, action, and impact to build a world of work that works for all. Discover more at SHRMFoundation.org. 

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.

About USAA

Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking, and retirement solutions, and serves more than 13.5 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorable served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in eight U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 37,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or X (@usaa), or visit usaa.com.