“Every Vet Counts!” National Small Business Surveymp
Employers of all sizes and from all industries are being asked to complete a 10-minute online questionnaire—anonymously if desired—to identify the challenges they are having in hiring veterans.
Click here for the questionnaire. In the first question, employers should input the code – G777 – and complete the questionnaire.
The former Director of Manpower and Personnel, (J-1), at the National Guard Bureau, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Marianne Watson is leading a nonprofit initiative to improve veteran hiring—and is calling on employers to participate in a first-ever internet-based national employer survey to identify the specific problems that are holding them back from hiring more military candidates. The goal of the survey is to identify industry-specific and location-specific education and networking resources that will help employers increase the number of veterans, National Guard members and Reservists who are hired.
The “Every Vet Counts!” campaign, part of the American Jobs for America’s Heroes (AJAH) military hiring initiative coordinated by the nonprofit Center for America (CFA), is a national private sector effort to help employers recruit and hire veterans, Guard members and Reservists.
The goal is to get the input of a cross-section of employers in diverse geographic areas to determine how best to tailor free education and networking resources to address industry-specific issues.
National data makes clear that, despite an improvement in the overall U.S. unemployment rate, veteran unemployment rates remain higher than the national averages. Further, as hundreds of thousands of active duty military are returning to civilian life full-time, the number of veterans, Guard members, and Reservists seeking full-time employment will stay above 1 million over the foreseeable future.
Small businesses (1–500 employees), which generate 70% or more of new U.S. jobs each month, report the critical need to find new employees. In its May 2015 Jobs Report, the National Federation of Independent Business found that 29% of small businesses had openings they couldn’t fill, a high point since April 2006, and 55% of small businesses reported hiring or trying to hire more employees. The “gap” is in how small businesses are connecting—or not connecting successfully—with veteran candidates.
Based on the AJAH four-year military hiring campaign, what’s required now are data-driven insights from employers on the challenges holding them back from more military hiring.
In many cases, the services are available to help employers succeed in military hiring, but time and availability of staff limit the reach and effectiveness of the services. In other cases, industry-specific requirements and geographic location can make job posting and connecting with veterans a random and frustrating experience.
Understanding how industry-specific needs differ will enable CFA to develop tailored resources to address these needs. These may include webcasts, guides, networking connections, panel presentations, conference calls, and answer hotlines.
Employers of all sizes and from all industries are being asked to complete a 10-minute online questionnaire—anonymously if desired—to identify the challenges they are having in hiring veterans.
Click here for the questionnaire. In the first question, employers should input the code – G777 – and complete the questionnaire.
Please contact Steve Nowlan, president of Center for America and coordinator for the American Jobs for American Heroes campaign, with any questions or for free help with your veteran recruiting, SNowlan@CenterForAmerica.org or 201-513-0379. Get a head start by downloading a free copy of CFA’s Best Practices Guide for Veteran Hiring.