There are many advantages for veterans when employers enact a skills-based employment strategy. Veterans bring unique skills and attributes to the workforce, many of which are critical today and expected to be increasingly sought after in the future of work. Skills-based employment opportunities can benefit both employers and veterans.
Empowering Veterans through Skills-Based Hiring
There are many advantages for veterans when employers enact a skills-based employment strategy. Veterans bring unique skills and attributes to the workforce, many of which are critical today and expected to be increasingly
sought after in the future of work. Skills-based employment opportunities can benefit both employers and veterans.
This data brief summarizes key insights from the IVMF report The Skills-Based Business Case for Hiring Veterans
This report explores the current state of skills-based hiring, examining trends, challenges, and future predictions. It focuses on how military veteran jobseekers can identify and communicate their skills. The report includes expert insights and offers recommendations for employers to develop skills-first frameworks and for veterans to navigate the employment landscape and maximize career prospects through upskilling.
The Changing Nature of Work
Today’s jobs are dynamic and require durable skills such as problem solving, agility, teamwork, and leadership – all skills developed during military service.
In this new model of work, veterans have an advantage if they can effectively develop and communicate these critical skills to potential employers.
Old Model
- DEGREE ▶ JOB
- EXPERIENCE ▶ PROMOTION
- TRAINING
New Model
- SKILLS ▶ ROLE FIT
- UPSKILL ▶ NEW TASKS
- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2023-2027 by Employers
Top Skills Rated as Increasing in Importance
Creative thinking - 73.2%
Analytical thinking - 71.6%
Technological literacy - 67.7%
Curiosity and lifelong learning - 66.8%
Resilience, flexibility and agility - 65.8%
Systems thinking - 59.9%
Hiring Veterans for Skills
Companies that are successfully developing skills-based employment models focus on:
- Skills-based recruiting for new hires
- Skills-first talent development for current employees
Employers looking to recruit and retain veterans should:
- Identify adjacent skills across various roles and jobs.
- Create a skills-based architecture to support analytics and fairness in hiring.
- Map skills to talent needs and reward skills according to their value to the organization.
- Foster a learning culture that aligns with veterans’ career goals to improve retention.
Opportunities for Veterans
To realize these opportunities, veterans should:
- Learn how to effectively communicate the skills they already have to employers.
- Leverage veteran-focused employment resources to get formal credentials that communicate their existing skills, or to develop new ones for their intended career.