Page updated 12/29/2016
Jobs for Veterans | Federal Jobs for US Veterans
There are many federal jobs available for veterans through civil service employment programs. Veterans Preference, discussed in this section, and the Veterans Readjustment Act (VRA) are two of the better known programs. Unknown to many, dependents and spouses of active duty personnel receive hiring preference for government jobs under the Military Spouse Preference program and the Family Member Preference Program.
The federal government has an outstanding record of employing veterans. Veterans hold a far higher percentage of jobs in the federal government than they do in private industry. In large part, this is due to laws providing Veterans’ Preference and special appointing authorities for veterans, as well as the fact that agencies recognize that hiring veterans is just good business. Most federal agencies, including all Presidential Cabinet-level agencies, have established a Veterans Employment Program Office responsible for enhancing employment opportunities for veterans within their agency.
According to an OPM report the Federal Government hired approximately 221,000 new employees in 2015. A total of 72,000 of the new hires were veterans, of which 31,000 were disabled veterans. The FY 2015 32.5 percent new hire rate for veterans represents an 8.5 percent increase from FY09, when the rate was 24 percent.
Veterans’ Preference gives eligible veterans preference in appointment over many other applicants. Veterans’ Preference applies to virtually all new appointments in the Competitive Service and many in the Excepted Service. Veterans’ Preference does not guarantee veterans jobs and it does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments, and reinstatements. Not all veterans receive preference for federal civilian employment, and not all active duty service qualifies for Veterans’ Preference. Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions are eligible for these veterans jobs through Veterans Preference. If you are interested in searching for available federal jobs for veterans please use the links below.