The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently announced an update to the annual hiring benchmark for veterans. This benchmark is a critical element for federal contractors subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA).
What’s New?
Effective July 30, 2025, the new national hiring benchmark for protected veterans is 5.1 percent. This represents a slight decrease from the previous benchmark of 5.2 percent.
What Does This Mean for Employers?
Federal contractors with a written Affirmative Action Program (AAP) are required to establish a hiring benchmark for protected veterans every year. They can either:
- Adopt the National Hiring Benchmark: This is the simplest option, and employers can utilize the updated 5.1 percent benchmark for their AAPs dated after July 30, 2025.
- Develop an Individualized Benchmark: This method involves a five-factor analysis considering the availability of veterans in the workforce, the company’s veteran outreach efforts, and the size of the workforce.
Next Steps for Employers
Analyze your veteran hiring data to see how it compares to the national benchmark. This can help identify areas for improvement in attracting and retaining veteran talent. The analysis should include:
- Updating your AAP hiring benchmark for veterans to reflect the new 5.1 percent standard if you choose to adopt the national benchmark.
- Assessing your current veteran outreach efforts and exploring new avenues to attract qualified veteran candidates; and
- Monitoring your veteran hiring data and comparing it to the benchmark to gauge your effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
How HR Works Can Help
HR Works assists employers with affirmative action plans, saving employers the administrative burden of developing and maintaining the plan in-house. To learn more about these services and how to leverage our compliance expertise and support, please contact us at info@hrworks-inc.com or call 1-877-219-9062.
