SHRM Poll: Military Employment February 20, 2012

Key Findings Are organizations hiring veterans? Roughly two-thirds of organizations (64%) have hired veterans within the past 36 months. This percentage has increased 11 percentage points compared with 2010 (53%). Larger organizations (100 or more employees) were more likely than smaller organizations (1 to 99 employees) to have hired veterans within the past 36 months. Do organizations make specific efforts to hire veterans? Of organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months, 45% had made specific efforts. Of organizations that have not hired any veterans in the past 36 months, only 15% had made a specific effort to recruit veterans. Are organizations aware of effective resources for recruiting veterans? Only 13% of organizations are very familiar with effective resources for finding veteran job candidates. Government agencies were more likely to be aware of effective resources for recruiting veterans. Only a small percentage of organizations are very familiar with, and use, the Depart of Labor’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (3%) and/or Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (4%).

Key Findings What online job boards are the most effective in helping to recruit veterans as potential job candidates? HR professionals indicated that Career Builder (39%), Monster (34%) and Indeed (23%) were the most effective for recruiting veterans. What are the benefits of hiring employees with military experience? Among the organizations that had hired veterans within the past 36 months, the top three reported benefits were the candidate’s strong sense of responsibility (97%), and ability to see a task through to completion (96%) and the organization’s ability to give back to U.S. veterans by showing gratitude for their service (95%). Organizations that had not hired veterans within the past 36 months reported similar potential benefits. What are the challenges of hiring employees with military experience? Approximately half of the organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months agreed or strongly agreed that the biggest challenges of hiring individuals with military experience are difficulty transitioning from a structure and hierarchy in the military culture to the civilian workplace culture (52%) and translating military skills to civilian job experience (50%). Post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health issues (42%) were also reported as challenges when hiring veterans.

Within the past 36 months, has your organization hired any veterans as full-time, part-time or temporary/contract workers? Note: Respondents who answered “Not sure” were excluded from this analysis.

Within the past 36 months, has your organization hired any veterans as full-time, part-time or temporary/contract workers? Comparisons by organization staff size Larger organizations (100 or more employees) are more likely than smaller organizations (1 to 99 employees) to have hired veterans within the past 36 months. Smaller organizations Larger organizations Differences based on organization staff size 1 to 99 employees (41%) 100 to 499 employees (68%) 500 to 2,499 employees (74%) 2,500 to 24,999 employees (76%) 25,000 or more employees (94%) Larger organizations > smaller organizations Comparisons by organization sector Publicly owned for-profit organizations and government agencies are more likely than privately owned for-profit organizations to have hired veterans within the past 36 months. Organization sector Differences based on organization sector Privately owned for-profit (55%) Publicly owned for-profit (82%) Government (91%) Publicly owned for-profit Government > privately owned for-profit

Have not hired a veteran Did your organization make a specific effort to recruit and hire veterans? Have hired a veteran in the past 36 months Have not hired a veteran 2012 2010 Yes 45% 50% 15% 11% No, but planning a recruitment effort 13% 14% No, and don’t have any plans to 42% 39% 71% 78% Note: n = 133-150 (2012); n = 145-175 (2010).

Smaller organizations Differences based on organization staff size Did your organization make a specific effort to recruit and hire veterans? Comparisons by organization staff size Of organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months, larger organizations (25,000 or more employees) are more likely to have made a specific effort to recruit and hire veterans compared with smaller organizations (1 to 499 employees). Smaller organizations Larger organizations Differences based on organization staff size 1 to 99 employees (37%) 100 to 499 employees (31%) 25,000 or more employees (85%) Larger organizations > smaller organizations

How aware is your organization of effective resources for finding veteran job candidates?

How aware is your organization of effective resources for finding veteran job candidates? Comparisons by organization sector Government agencies are more likely to be very aware of effective resources for finding veteran job candidates compared with privately owned for-profit organizations. Privately owned for-profit organizations Government agencies Differences based on organization sector 8% 32% Government agencies > privately owned for-profit organizations

How familiar are you with the following Department of Labor (DOL) veterans’ programs? Have you used either of these programs in your organization’s recruiting? Not at all familiar Somewhat familiar, but do not use Somewhat familiar and use Very familiar, but do not use Very familiar and use 2012 2010 Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) 67% 70% 21% 19% 4% 6% 5% 3% 2% Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) 64% 68% 16% 7% 9% Note: n = 291 (2012); n = 364-365 (2010).

Smaller organizations Differences based on organization staff size How familiar are you with the following Department of Labor (DOL) veterans’ programs? Have you used either of these programs in your organization’s recruiting? Comparisons by organization staff size Larger organizations (25,000 or more employees) are more likely to be very familiar with and use the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program compared with smaller organizations (1 to 99 employees and 2,500 to 24,999 employees). Smaller organizations Larger organizations Differences based on organization staff size 1 to 99 employees (3%) 2,500 to 24,999 employees (2%) 25,000 or more employees (25%) Larger organizations > smaller organizations

Not applicable; my organization does not use this source Within the past 36 months, how effective have the following national online job boards been in helping your organization recruit veterans as potential job candidates? Not applicable; my organization does not use this source Not at all effective Somewhat effective Very effective Vault 95% 3% 2% 0% Militaryhire.com 94% 1% Vetsuccess.gov 91% 6% HireVetsFirst 90% Recruit Military Jobcentral 88% 4% 7% Vetjobs.com 9% CareerOneStop 87% Simplyhired 84% HotJobs 77% 12% Indeed 69% 8% 19% Monster 47% 18% 31% Career Builder 46% 15% 32% Note: n = 277-293. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

In addition to the job boards listed above, what other sources does your organization use to recruit veteran job candidates? Civilianjobs.com ClearanceJobs.com Craigslist Employerpartnership.org HirePatriots.org Hireveterans.com Industry contacts Job fairs JSFirm.com LinkedIn Military.com Recruiters and/or staffing agencies Rigzone.com State or local sponsored programs, employment listings or job boards USAJobs.gov Word of mouth/referrals WorkSource Note: List is not inclusive of all responses.

How likely is your organization to actively recruit unemployed veterans and/or unemployed veterans with disabilities now that there is a tax credit available?

To what extent would each of the following help your organization’s efforts to recruit and hire military veterans? Would not help at all Would help a little Would help somewhat Would help a lot 2012 2010 Assistance identifying and reaching out to qualified veterans 6% 9% 17% 20% 31% 39% 46% 32% Information about how military skills map to civilian job-related skills 8% * 14% 34% 44% Programs to help veterans transition their military skills to the civilian workplace 7% 11% 16% 18% 38% 35% 40% 36% Programs to help veterans transition from military culture to civilian workplace culture 12% 19% 22% 37% Programs to train veterans with additional skills for the civilian workplace 33% Information about and support for dealing with potential challenges veterans may face, such as PTSD or other mental health issues 21% 24% 26% Information about and support for dealing with potential challenges veterans with physical disabilities may face 30% Note: n = 266-277 (2012); n = 302-335(2010). Respondents who answered “N/A – Experienced in this area, do not need assistance” were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. An asterisk (*) indicates that this response choice was not available in 2010.

Organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months Do you agree that the following are benefits of hiring employees with military experience? Organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months (n = 99-160) Organizations that have not hired veterans in the past 36 months, but have made an effort to do so (n = 13-17) Organizations that have not hired veterans in the past 36 months and have not made an effort to do so (n = 84-119) Strong sense of responsibility 97% 94% 99% Ability to see a task through to completion 96% 98% The organization’s ability to give back to U.S. veterans by showing gratitude for their service 95% 100% Promoting patriotism at the organization 101% Ability to work as part of a team Ability to work under pressure High degree of professionalism 93% 88% Strong leadership skills 90% Positive enhancement of the organization’s image and/or credibility Note: The percentages above reflect only the responses of “strongly agree” or “agree.”

Organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months Do you agree that the following are benefits of hiring employees with military experience? (continued) Organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months (n = 99-160) Organizations that have not hired veterans in the past 36 months, but have made an effort to do so (n = 13-17) Organizations that have not hired veterans in the past 36 months and have not made an effort to do so (n = 84-119) Strong problem-solving skills 90% 87% 97% Technology/information technology skills and training 88% 91% Ability to multitask 79% 94% Ability to adapt to changing situations quickly 99% Job-specific skills 86% 85% Global perspective 80% 93% Strategic planning/foresight Fulfillment of federal and/or state affirmative action requirements 78% 89% Knowledge/expertise of defense issues 77% Note: The percentages above reflect only the responses of “strongly agree” or “agree.”

Based on your overall experience, do you agree that each of the following is a challenge in hiring employees with military experience? Note: n = 154-159. Only respondents whose organization had hired veterans in the past 36 months were asked this question. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

Demographics: Organization Industry Percentage Manufacturing 20% Professional, scientific and technical services 15% Health care and social assistance 13% Finance and insurance 11% Other services except public administration 8% Educational services 7% Public administration 6% Construction of buildings; heavy and civil engineering construction; specialty trade contractors 4% Transportation and warehousing Accommodation and food services 3% Retail trade Real estate and rental and leasing Note: n = 290. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple response options.

Demographics: Organization Industry Percentage Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3% Utilities Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 2% Information, publishing industries Mining Wholesale trade Management of companies and enterprises 1% Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting Religious, grant-making, civic, professional and similar organizations Repair and maintenance Personal and laundry services * Note: n = 290. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple response options. An asterisks (*) indicates < 1%.

Demographics: Organization Sector

Demographics: Organization Staff Size

Demographics: Other Is your organization a single-unit company or a multi-unit company? Does your organization have U.S.-based operations (business units) only or does it operate multi-nationally? Single-unit company: A company in which the location and the company are one and the same. 38% Multi-unit company: A company that has more than one location. 63% U.S.-based operations only 73% Multinational operations 27% n = 259 Note: n = 296. Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding. Are HR policies and practices determined by the multi-unit corporate headquarters, by each work location or both? What is the HR department/function for which you responded throughout this survey? Multi-unit headquarters determines HR policies and practices 46% Each work location determines HR policies and practices 3% A combination of both the work location and the multi-unit headquarters determine HR policies and practices 52% Corporate (company wide) 56% Business unit/division 24% Facility/location 20% n = 188 Note: n = 189. Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding.

SHRM Poll: Military Employment Methodology Response rate = 13% Sample composed of 359 randomly selected HR professionals from SHRM’s membership Margin of error is +/- 5% Survey fielded January 4-22, 2012 For more poll findings, visit www.shrm.org/surveys Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SHRM_Research