WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 today. The report notes that 6,000 more veterans were hired in FY15 compared to FY14, bringing the percentage of new veterans hired to 32.5 percent. Veterans now represent 30.9 percent of the Federal workforce, as compared to 25.8 percent in FY 2009- the year President Obama signed Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government.

“Each year, about 200,000 military service members hang up their uniforms and make the transition to civilian life,” said Beth Cobert, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management. “Veterans bring distinctive training, skills, leadership, and experiences that we need at every agency in the Federal Government.”

In FY15, the Federal Government hired approximately 221,000 new employees. Approximately 72,000 of those 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.

As part of his Executive Order, the President created the Veterans Employment Initiative and the Council on Veterans Employment, on which Acting Director Cobert serves as vice-chair. In total, the Federal Government hired approximately 516,000 veterans from the start of this initiative in FY09 through FY16.

The council had three objectives, which included honoring the nation’s obligation to improve employment opportunities for veterans, utilizing the talents of veterans to help the government meet today’s challenges, and creating a program worthy of being emulated by the private sector.

At its May meeting, the Council discussed its many accomplishments, which included the creation of an infrastructure that values and advocates for veterans; the establishment of Veteran Employment Program Offices; the launch of the Feds Hire Vets website; the creation of the Vets to Feds Career Development Program; and advancement of the Government-wide Veterans Recruitment and Employment Strategic Plan.