Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you about this important topic.

I will be speaking to you today about findings on veteran employment from research I led during my time as a researcher with Veterans Affairs Canada. This research uses data from the life after service studies, or LASS, as well as findings from research conducted by NATO on military to civilian transition.

Employment has been found to be important to the health, well-being and adjustment from military to civilian life for veterans. Fortunately, most veterans are employed after release and are satisfied with their work. Both employment and satisfaction rates grow over time.

Also, while the unemployment rate—that is those actually looking for work—does not differ from that of the general Canadian population, veterans are less likely to be employed and more likely to experience activity limitations at work.

There is also variation in outcomes across diverse groups of the population. This was alluded to in some of your questioning earlier. Those looking for work are more likely than the employed veterans to be younger at release, to have fewer years of service and to have served in the army. Those not in the labour force are more likely to be older and to have had more years of service. They may experience barriers to work, such as ageism and disability.

Satisfaction with civilian employment also varies considerably by military rank, with officers being the most satisfied and privates and cadets being the least satisfied.

The lowest labour market earnings are among those who served in the combat arms. Employment rates are lower among female veterans and among medically released veterans.

There are also gender differences in earnings. Female veterans earn about 58% of what their male counterparts earn. This is not a function of the types of industries women work in, as females earn less than their male counterparts in all industries except for mining.

Changing employers is common among veterans. More than half of veterans changed employers during the first three years post-release. About one in 10 veterans report that their main activity is “disabled” or being on disability in the first year after release. This figure doesn't change over time.

While income and access to benefits and compensation are important for the health and financial security of veterans and their families, having a purpose in work and life provides a sense of identity and social integration that is essential for a successful transition to civilian life. Research suggests that people experiencing disability should be encouraged and supported to remain in or re-enter the workforce as soon as possible. In this regard, a program such as individual placement and support has been found to be more effective than traditional rehabilitation in improving employment rates and earnings among veterans with PTSD and spinal cord injuries.

In a systematic review conducted in Canada of work reintegration among veterans with mental disorders, individual placement and support was highlighted as a promising intervention. Many nations recognize the importance of employment assistance and most have programs available to both transitioning and former members. A few, such as the U.K., have formally evaluated their programs.

What does all this tell us?

First, supports need to account for the different types of employment outcomes experienced by various subject groups of the population.

Second, supports also need to recognize the dynamic nature of the labour market, which necessitates not just supports in the transition to civilian life, but also ongoing supports in maintaining employment and finding more suitable employment.

Third, for those experiencing disability, we need to ensure that evidence-based interventions are in place and are reaching those in need.

This includes work accommodations, multidisciplinary health care and case management, and individuals' placement and support, which combines these elements, plus a set of principles that focus on ability rather than disability.

Finally, we can learn from the successes and failures of other nations.

Thank you for your attention.

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