Inclusive Hiring: Championing Military-Connected Talent
Through the Military Community at Work initiative, SHRM Foundation works directly with HR stakeholders to reduce barriers within the hiring process and enhance support for transitioning veterans, military spouses, caregivers, and National Guard and Reserve members throughout the employment life cycle.
Veterans Research
Discover vital insights and strategies from the SHRM Foundation’s research report, Completing the Mission: Best Practices for Recruiting and Hiring Veterans. This report addresses challenges in hiring and retaining military veterans, offering actionable solutions for employers.
Military Spouse Research
View key findings on employing military spouses from the SHRM Foundation research, Insight to Action: Leveraging the Potential of Military Spouse Talent. Discover strategies and insights to effectively leverage this valuable and often underutilized talent pool.
HR & Employer Guidebook
Enhance your talent strategy with SHRM Foundation’s guidebook, Mission-Ready: Strategies and Best Practices for Recruiting, Retaining and Advancing Military-Connected Talent. Get tools and training to effectively hire and retain military-connected professionals.
Barriers Veterans and Their Families Face
Members of the military community encounter significant barriers when searching for employment opportunities.
At the end of 2023, the unemployment rate for active-duty military spouses was around 21%.*
Despite their unique skills and considerable value to employers, a significant number of military community members report encountering obstacles in attaining employment.
Why Hire Military-Connected Talent?
Recognize the key benefits of integrating military-connected talent into your workforce.
.
98%
of HR professionals believe veterans can thrive in a variety of work settings.*
96%
of HR professional agreed that veterans thrive in both entry-level and managerial roles.*
34%
of military spouses have a bachelor’s degree and 15% have an advanced degree.**
95%
of HR professional said veterans are uniquely trained to work through chaotic times.*
*Completing the Mission: Best Practices for Recruiting and Hiring Veterans, SHRM, 2024
**Insight to Action: Leveraging the Potential of Military Spouse Talent, SHRM, 2024.
Wendi Safstrom
President, SHRM Foundation
“The SHRM Foundation knows veterans and their families are valuable members of our workforce, and our Military Community at Work initiative will help HR professionals attract, hire, and retain members of the military community.”
Programs and Resources
SHRM Foundation, in conjunction with our investors, initially developed our Veterans at Work initiative, which has expanded to the Military Community at Work initiative to provide HR stakeholders with proven educational content and resources to learn effective ways to reduce barriers and stigmas affecting the employment of members of the military community. Together, we provide resources at no cost thanks to generous funders that help all HR stakeholders implement better employment practices for military community members in their workplace.
Military Community Ambassadors
Become a volunteer in our Military Community Ambassador program to provide education and training within your community to support the recruitment, hiring, and retention of members of the military community.
Veterans at Work Certificate
A free program that teaches best practices to attract, hire, and retain veterans. 10 PDCs on completion.
Employing Veterans: Digital Toolkit
High-quality resources focused on veteran hiring for HR professionals in small and midsize companies.
SHRM Foundation is proud to be part of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). We have joined more than 500 organizations to support this important partnership and to renew our dedication to recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining military spouses.
