Falls Church, VA, Oct. 1, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In conjunction with Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), VetAdvisor, LLC today announced the findings and results of the Veterans Job Retention Survey. The purpose of the survey was to gather data to determine both the rate of veteran employee attrition and the reasons why veterans leave their initial post-military jobs.
Over 1,400 veterans responded to the survey, which was conducted online between December 2013 and February 2014. Major findings include:
· Over 14 percent of the respondents indicated that they were presently working in their first civilian job. Of those who left their first job, nearly half of the respondents left in their first year and two-thirds left within two years.
· Veterans identified the biggest obstacle to attaining employment was finding opportunities that match past military training and experience.
· Nine out of ten respondents identified the opportunity to use their skills and abilities as the most important aspect of civilian employment. Several aspects of career development, benefits, work environment, and employee relationship with management were also identified as important retention considerations.
· Regardless of the number of jobs held, there was an association between job alignment and job tenure with the respondent's preferred career field.
"VetAdvisor launched the Veterans Job Retention Survey with IVMF because we had anecdotal evidence that many veterans did not long remain in their first post-military job, and the data shows this to in fact be the case," states VetAdvisor CEO Dan Frank. "Survey data further shows providing veteran-centric career and life assistance programs, and educating employers on military skills translation and veteran desire to contribute meaningfully, is an integral part of increased veteran employee retention. The next step is for employers to deploy such programs to increase the retention of those veterans they have recruited and trained."
"The survey's results provide a better understanding of the causes for veteran attrition, and indicate which programs and policies can improve retention," James Schmeling, IVMF Managing Director and Co-Founder, comments. "This also provides a strong justification for private- and government-sponsored programs that expedite, streamline, and tailor job searches and workplace career services for veterans of all levels and types of experience and knowledge. It's very important for transitioning military members to be informed and find career fits, that maximize their use of skills, to improve first job retention, and for business and industry to maximize veteran contributions to their workforce."
"The survey and findings help inform the dialogue of successful post-military veteran employment," Rosalinda Maury, IVMF Director of Survey Research, comments. "One key finding is the positive association between job alignment and job tenure, which highlights the importance of matching job requirements and aspirations with veteran qualifications."
The Veterans Job Retention Survey is part of a continuing effort by VetAdvisor to develop programs to support veterans as they transition to civilian life. As part of its thought leadership in the reintegration issues faced by veterans, VetAdvisor partnered with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2012 to conduct the National Veteran Sleep Survey in order to better understand the underlying causes of and possible treatments for veteran sleep disorders.
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About VetAdvisor®: VetAdvisor® is the nation's expert in veteran-centric integrative care, providing proactive coaching services across behavioral health, wellness, financial, and all aspects of transition and career development. We also consult with corporate HR and management teams to teach organizations how to recruit, retain, and interface with military veterans and service members. For more information, visit www.myvetadvisor.com .
About IVMF: As the first institute of its kind in the nation, the IVMF leverages the intellectual, programmatic and human capital resources of higher education in support of the post-service life course of the nation's veterans and military families. The IVMF focuses on developing impactful programming, cultivating actionable research, conducting policy analysis and providing technical assistance positioned to address the social, economic and public policy challenges facing the veterans' community. The IVMF team approaches this mission as a collaboration, forging enduring partnerships with government, private industry, institutions of higher education, philanthropic organizations and stakeholders committed to supporting transitioning service members, veterans and their families. Visit vets.syr.edu for more information.
Elinor Warner
