Top Reason Employers Don't Hire Veterans

By Brent Rasmussen, president, CareerBuilder North America


The unemployment rate for veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq, though declining, is still considerably higher than the general population's rate. While military veterans possess a great deal of the business-friendly skills that employers look for in candidates, one of the challenges vets face is knowing where to begin when job hunting after they return from active duty.

A new CareerBuilder study finds that 29 percent of employers are actively recruiting veterans for their organizations, a 9 percent increase from 2011. In addition, 22 percent of employers plan to add National Guard members to their organizations, which is an 8 percent increase from last year. The survey finds that employers are eager to bring veterans into their business, but making that happen is often difficult.