Service after Service: The National Veterans Employment
Strategy aims to improve employment opportunities for
Veterans
OTTAWA,
ON, June 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Veterans have served
our country with pride and dedication. In the course of their
service, they acquired skills and knowledge that make them valuable
assets to any team. To facilitate a successful transition for
members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Government of
Canada is taking steps to address
this need.
Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of
Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National
Defence marked the official launch of Service after
Service: The National Veterans Employment Strategy by ringing
the bell at the Toronto Stock Exchange alongside Veterans,
employers and stakeholders, then later met with Veterans and
industry partners.
The Strategy provides a comprehensive roadmap to support Veteran
employment, by leveraging their unique qualifications, as finding a
job after service can be an important part of a Veterans transition
journey, and we are committed to ensuring every Veteran has the
opportunity to find meaningful employment.
Indeed, over the past ten years, an average of 8,200 Canadian
Armed Forces members released each year, and approximately half of
those Veterans were seeking new career opportunities. That is why
the Strategy identifies areas where the Government of Canada can build on and strengthen current
efforts to make the job search process easier and more efficient
for Veterans, including:
- Improving services and expanding programs for Veterans;
- Creating and recognizing Veteran ready employers;
- Positioning the public service as a leader for Veteran
employment, and;
- Building trusted partnerships.
Building partnerships between government departments,
not-for-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions,
employers and businesses across the country is essential to
creating a community focused on Veteran employment. By building
these partnerships, organizations will be better positioned to
understand Veterans skills and meet their needs. As part of this
effort, the Minister also participated in a roundtable organized by
the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to
speak directly with some of Canada's leading employers of Veterans, and
met with Veterans and industry partners to see this work in
action.
The Strategy will be updated using evidence-based approaches and
ongoing consultations to effectively address new issues and adapt
to the changing needs of Veterans.
Quotes
"Each year, serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces become
Veterans. They have the skills, dedication and leadership needed
across the workforce. To support them as they take on a new form of
service, our government is introducing a National Veterans
Employment Strategy. This strategy aims to reduce employment
barriers for Veterans, which will contribute to a successful
transition to life after service and to their overall
well-being."
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans
Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
"Transition starts at recruitment. Every CAF member's transition
journey looks different and they deserve to have their journey
needs reflected in this strategy. We look forward to working with
our colleagues to improve services and implement strategy
initiatives to better serve releasing CAF members and
Veterans."
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National
Defence
Quick Facts
- Service after Service: The National Veterans Employment
Strategy, encourages all orders of government, the private
sector and non-governmental organizations to promote and increase
employment opportunities for Veterans. The strategy was developed
with support and direct input of stakeholders and employers, and
most importantly, of Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members
themselves.
- Veterans Affairs Canada is committed to building relationships
with public service hiring managers and private sector employers to
raise awareness of the valuable skills and qualifications Veterans
bring to the workplace, and to promote and support Veteran
employment opportunities.
- Employment contributes to a Veterans overall well-being by
touching on three of the seven domains of well-being- purpose,
finances and social integration. We are dedicated to supporting the
overall well-being of Veterans.
- More than 1,700 companies have expressed interest in hiring
Veterans in recent years with some companies having dedicated
Veteran recruitment initiatives and employee resource groups for
Veterans.
- There are 5,600 members of the Hire a Veteran LinkedIn
group dedicated to connecting Veterans with employers seeking
to hire Veterans. Hundreds of job opportunities are posted into
this network by employers and talent recruitment professionals who
recognize the skills Veterans can offer the labour market.
- There is no one set preferred career path for Veterans entering
the civilian workforce – Veterans can become anything from gourmet
chefs to small-business owners or fulfil a variety of
industry-related leadership roles.
- According to the 2021 Census of Population, almost one-third of
Veterans were in the core working age group of 25 to 54 (32%).
- There are approximately 678,500 job vacancies in Canada. Veterans have the skills needed to
fill these positions and make an impact on the Canadian
workforce.
Related Products
- Service after Service: The National Veterans Employment
Strategy
SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada - Ottawa