Edelman and Edelman Data & Intelligence have just completed a Veterans Well-Being Survey to help the public and private sectors better understand the current state of veteran employment and well-being. The new 2024 study, the first since our 2018 survey, shows that mental and physical health challenges among veterans have continued to rise (57% of veterans report facing a mental health challenge in the past year, a sharp increase from 44% in 2018) and lack of career fulfillment and employment remain a big part of that.
Today’s veterans, like generations before them, bring to civilian life an invaluable set of soft skills: resilience, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability and decision-making. They return home with proven resilience and adaptability—qualities that are increasingly essential in navigating today’s complex, rapidly evolving professional landscape.
However, our culture remains fixed on viewing veterans through the narrow lens of heroism. According to the survey, 6 in 10 respondents see veterans as heroes, but only 1 in 5 view them as strategic assets. It’s time to shift this perspective. Veterans are not just heroes; they are valuable contributors whose unique experiences and skills can enrich any workplace.
Employers cite recurring challenges when considering veteran candidates—perceived skill mismatches (43%), insufficient years of civilian experience (31%) and educational gaps. These barriers are often rooted in persistent myths that overlook veterans' unique, mission-driven capabilities. The lack of understanding creates an ongoing cycle of underutilized potential and lost opportunities. Veterans may feel disconnected from their roles or undervalued, while employers miss out on a highly skilled, disciplined, and motivated workforce that could bring tremendous value to their organizations.
Career fulfillment stands as a vital component of veterans’ well-being. When veterans separate from the armed forces, more than half struggle to find positions that align with their skills or desired job industry. However, almost 7 out of 10 (69%) veterans currently in the workforce find a desired field. More than 4 in 5 employers (84%) believe their companies will benefit from veteran-focused programs like internships or apprenticeships but less than 1 in 3 (29%) say they actually have programs geared toward veterans.
The call is clear: employers and society must prioritize and champion the well-being and career integration of our veterans, seeing them as strategic assets to almost every workplace in America. This shift can take place through business leaders’ education of veterans' skills, revamping interview questions to better convey veteran’s employment experiences, creating a veteran’s resource group to build community or customized onboarding programs for veteran skill-building in your industry.
My father, Dan Edelman, and so many others after him, successfully transitioned from military service and established companies that are still thriving today. We’re proud to have implemented programs and been in the trenches for client work with our survey partners The Road Home, Student Veterans of America, Pat Tillman Foundation, Hiring Our Heroes, Bob Woodruff Foundation, HRMAC Institute at the Executives Club of Chicago and Blue Star Families.
For any media inquires, please contact Katie Carter at katie.carter@edelman.com.
