Gov. Evers Announces WI's Veteran Employment Services Rank in Top Five in US for Third Consecutive Year

Gov. Evers Announces WI’s Veteran Employment Services Rank in Top Five in US for Third Consecutive Year

Posted on: August 14, 2026

Gov. Evers Announces Wisconsin’s Veteran Employment Services Rank Top Five in the U.S. for Third Consecutive Year

Governor celebrates Evers Administration’s continued success in supporting Wisconsin’s veterans find employment and job opportunities statewide

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), announced [on July 24] that in 2025, Wisconsin retained its top five national ranking for successfully helping veterans find employment for the third year in a row. Once again, Wisconsin was ranked fourth in the nation for these efforts, underscoring Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration’s continued commitment to supporting Wisconsin’s approximately 300,000 veterans and connecting them with available jobs to ensure they have the resources and tools needed to thrive in their civilian lives.

“Our veterans often face unique hurdles in their civilian lives, but the skills and training they’ve received through their service make them invaluable assets to our workforce,” said Gov. Evers. “Whether it’s getting folks connected to available jobs, expanding opportunities for education and job training, or ensuring they have the healthcare, housing, and supports they need to thrive, supporting our veterans has been a cornerstone priority of my administration since Day One. I’m incredibly proud of our work over the last seven years to support Wisconsin’s veterans, and the proof of that good work is clear as we continue to lead the nation in providing the critical tools our veterans need to live their best, fullest lives and support their families.”

Wisconsin has been ranked fourth in the nation every year since 2023 in the Uniform National Threshold Entered Employment Rate (UNTEER) for veterans and eligible persons, a standard created by the U.S. Department of Labor to measure how effective states are in providing employment services to veterans. The standard covers state service delivery systems, including programs administered by DWD’s Office of Veterans Employment Services (OVES), the Jobs for Veterans State Grants program, and the Wagner-Peyser-funded Employment Service.

“With continued low unemployment rates in our state, employers are looking to fill high-skill job openings across many industries,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “Veterans bring invaluable experience and skills to the workforce, but they often face unique challenges in finding family-supporting employment when they return to civilian life. DWD’s OVES provides individualized services to veterans and partners with Wisconsin companies to help them build their workforces.”

OVES assists veterans through the entire employment process, from developing a resume and translating military experience into civilian job qualifications to making connections with employers for available jobs. Employers can also work with OVES to access funding for on-the-job training, offer subsidized transitional employment, and build a diverse workforce from a broad pool of skilled candidates.

In the program year that ended June 2025, the Veterans’ Entered Employment Rate in Wisconsin exceeded the national threshold, with over 62 percent of participating veterans securing employment after using DWD’s services. DWD’s Veterans Employment Services website outlines the agency’s additional veteran employment programs like the Vets Ready Employer Initiative, Hire Heroes program, and other resources available to veterans and employers.

Under Gov. Evers’ leadership, OVES has continued to advance employment opportunities for Wisconsin veterans through targeted efforts, including: The Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP), which works to provide individualized career services to a targeted population of veterans who have significant barriers to employment and who are economically or educationally disadvantaged in competing in today’s labor market. DVOP specialists assist veterans in overcoming barriers to employment, coordinate community resources, and gain access to education and job training opportunities; Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER), who conduct outreach to employers to promote the advantages of hiring veterans. LVER staff also plan and participate in job fairs, conduct job clubs, and coordinate with apprenticeship and internship programs, business organizations, and unions in promoting and advocating the benefits of training programs for veterans; The Vets Ready Employer Initiative, which encourages and recognizes employers that go above and beyond for Wisconsin’s veteran workforce. The recognition honors those employers that hire and retain veterans, build veteran support systems, and connect with veterans in the community while assisting employers in attracting and retaining veteran talent. Winners will be announced in November on Veterans Day. The number of employers recognized as Vets Ready Employers reached a record high in 2025, including eight first-time recipients, reflecting the growing commitment of employers to hiring and supporting veterans in the workforce. Employers earning the Vets Ready recognition are highlighted on the Job Center of Wisconsin, where job seekers can search for jobs posted by Vets Ready employers; The Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment, which allows veterans who have served in the Armed Forces, who have a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more, and are not currently employed in a permanent position with Wisconsin State Government, to be considered for jobs in state agencies without having to compete or take a civil service assessment; and The Military Career Crosswalk Reference, offering veterans a reference to help translate their military skills into civilian job categories.“Wisconsin’s veterans bring discipline, leadership, and hard-earned skills to our workforce, and this ranking reflects what happens when state agencies work together on their behalf,” said DVA Secretary James Bond. “WDVA is part of a larger effort to make sure Wisconsin is delivering on its commitment to those who have served in the armed forces. We are grateful to have dedicated partners in our mission from the local level all the way to the governor’s office.”