Veterans Talent Index: Insights and Analysis from Veteran Professionals, Recruiters and Hiring Managers

This report provides an insightful look at our nation's newest group of veterans, referred to as Gulf Era II veterans, the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and Post 9/11 veterans. This unique group of veterans is facing unprecedented challenges as hundreds of thousands are leaving the military and entering the civilian workforce each year.Two years ago, Monster and Military.com launched the Veterans Talent Index in order to provide an ongoing and quantifiable metric of employment conditions for the transitioning veteran job seekers and the employers hiring them. Twice a year, groups of these specific seekers and employers are surveyed; this report marks the fifth survey.Since these indices were established two years ago, the efforts by both private and public organizations to employ veterans have grown. The government has stepped in with business tax credits and special employment laws to encourage hiring as well as to restore jobs for those who left to serve in the military. In 2011, the President challenged the private sector to hire and train 100,000 veterans and military spouses; by August 2012, this goal had been surpassed and by April 2013 U.S. businesses had hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses. Private sector companies are working together to share best practices on recruiting, retaining and supporting veterans and specialized associations are developing online tools, transition programs and training programs to enable veterans