Veteran Hiring Initiatives

Header image: U.S. Army photo by Jason Goselin

Quick Answer

Veteran hiring initiatives help employers recruit, hire, and keep people who served. Key programs include SkillBridge internships, Helmets to Hardhats for the building trades, Registered Apprenticeship with GI Bill support, Hiring Our Heroes, and the Department of Labor's HIRE Vets Medallion. Federal contractors also have VEVRAA obligations.

Why Veteran Hiring Initiatives Matter

Veterans are a large, skilled talent pool. According to the BLS Employment Situation of Veterans (released April 28, 2026), there were 17.3 million veterans in 2025, about 7 percent of the civilian population age 18 and over. Their unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, lower than the 4.2 percent rate for nonveterans. The largest group, 5.6 million, served during Gulf War-era II (September 2001 to present).

Veterans bring what construction and safety-critical work needs: training discipline, comfort with procedures and PPE, teamwork, and leadership under pressure. For many, the trades are a natural fit. Read transitioning from military to skilled trades.

Federal Veteran Hiring Initiatives For Employers

SkillBridge

The military's SkillBridge program lets eligible service members spend part of their final months of service in civilian training, apprenticeships, or internships with approved industry partners while still receiving military pay. Employers get a trial period with a motivated candidate.

HIRE Vets Medallion Program

The Department of Labor's HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level veterans' employment award. It recognizes companies for recruiting, employing, and retaining veterans, with Gold and Platinum criteria for small, medium, and large employers.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

WOTC has offered employers a tax credit for hiring certain veterans and other targeted groups. Its current authorization ran through December 31, 2025, and as of October 2026 both the Department of Labor and the IRS still list that date. Congress has extended WOTC retroactively before, so check its status with your tax advisor before counting on it.

Veteran Hiring Initiatives For The Skilled Trades

• Helmets to Hardhats connects veterans with building trades apprenticeships and careers.
• Registered Apprenticeship programs can be paired with GI Bill benefits through the VA's on-the-job training and apprenticeship option, so veterans earn while they learn.
• VA Veteran Readiness and Employment supports veterans with service-connected disabilities in training and employment.
• Union veterans programs such as the UBC Military Veterans Program provide pre-apprenticeship training.

Veteran Hiring Obligations For Federal Contractors

If you hold federal contracts or subcontracts, veteran hiring is also a compliance issue. The Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against protected veterans and requires affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain them. Check current Department of Labor guidance for thresholds and reporting.

How To Build A Veteran Hiring Initiative

• Translate jobs. Map military occupational specialties to your roles, and write postings in plain language.
• Recruit where veterans are. Use Hiring Our Heroes events, base transition offices, and VA careers and employment resources.
• Offer SkillBridge and apprenticeship slots as on-ramps.
• Support retention. Veteran mentors, employee resource groups, and flexibility for Guard and Reserve duty keep people.
• Accommodate disabilities. BLS reports that in August 2025, 34 percent of all veterans and 50 percent of Gulf War-era II veterans had a service-connected disability.
• Measure it. Track veteran applicants, hires, and retention, and apply for HIRE Vets recognition.

Veteran Hiring Initiative Mistakes To Avoid

• Thanking veterans without hiring them. Recognition events are nice. A clear job pipeline is what counts.
• Screening out military experience. Automated filters that look for civilian titles miss qualified candidates. Train recruiters to read military resumes.
• Ignoring military spouses. Spouses face frequent moves and are a strong talent pool. Hiring Our Heroes runs dedicated spouse programs.
• Stopping at the offer letter. Retention takes onboarding, mentoring, and a path to advancement. Veterans leave jobs that do not use their skills.
• Treating Guard and Reserve duty as a problem. Federal law protects their jobs, and support for their service builds loyalty.

Veteran Hiring Key Statistics

• 17.3 million veterans in 2025 (BLS, April 28, 2026).
• 3.5 percent veteran unemployment vs. 4.2 percent for nonveterans in 2025 (BLS).
• 294,000 unemployed veterans in 2025, about 60 percent ages 25 to 54 (BLS).
• 38.7 percent of employed veterans with a service-connected disability worked in the public sector in August 2025 (BLS).

Equipping Veteran Hires From Day One

New hires need gear that fits. BDG Safety supplies Type II safety helmets, hi-vis vests, and gloves for crews and apprenticeship programs, including the STUDSON SHK-1 Full Brim Non-Vented.

Related Veteran Resources

Veteran workforce development. Building the pipeline.

Supporting veteran-owned businesses. Buying from veterans.

What is an SDVOSB?. Service-disabled veteran-owned businesses explained.

Frequently Asked Questions About Veteran Hiring Initiatives

Q: Is WOTC available for veteran hires right now?

A: Its authorization ran through December 31, 2025, and DOL and IRS still list that date as of October 2026. Confirm current status with your tax advisor.

Q: Does SkillBridge cost the employer anything?

A: Participants are paid by the military during the program. Employers provide the training and supervision.

Q: Can small businesses earn the HIRE Vets Medallion?

A: Yes. DOL has separate criteria for small, medium, and large employers.

Q: What is a protected veteran?

A: Under VEVRAA, categories include disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans.

Q: Where can employers post jobs for veterans?

A: State workforce agencies and American Job Centers, Hiring Our Heroes events, base transition offices, and Helmets to Hardhats for trades roles are all good starting points.

Work With A Veteran-Owned PPE Partner

BDG Safety was founded by a Navy veteran and supports veteran hiring across the trades. Call (619) 992-7621 or email info@bulldoggroup.net. BDG Safety is a Navy-veteran-founded, certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that supplies Type II safety helmets and PPE to contractors, agencies, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Real people who know the gear, no phone menus. Open a B2B account or see how to buy.

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