Team NEO Report Examines Veteran Talent Pool

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A new economic research report published by Team NEO examines how tapping into the veteran talent pool can help lay the groundwork for creating a vibrant economy.

Team NEO released the report, “Untapped Opportunities,” on Monday.

“Untapped Opportunities” is a supplement to Team NEO’s annual “Aligning Opportunities” report, which provides an assessment of in-demand jobs, the availability of trained workers to meet this demand, and a picture of what skills and training the workforce needs to fill these positions.

This latest research complements Team NEO’s earlier studies, “Misaligned Opportunities,” a report that takes a deeper look at racial equity as it relates to labor force opportunities, and “Lost Opportunities,” a supplement released for the first time last year that examines the pandemic’s economic impact on working women.

“Untapped Opportunities” uses national and regional data to gain insights into veteran demographics, education, and workforce trends in our region. The report, which can be downloaded here, specifically examines Gulf War era veterans who are most integrated into our workforce.

Key highlights of the study include:

• Education: Fifty-four percent of Northeast Ohio’s Gulf War era veterans have at least some college: an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree or higher. In 2020 alone, more than 2,600 students received GI Bill benefits for their Northeast Ohio higher education.
• Veteran Workforce Trends:  Because veterans come from niche backgrounds in the military, some employers have difficulty transitioning their skillsets to traditional job requirements, often resulting in veteran talent being underutilized, or untapped. However, in today’s employment climate, it is beneficial if human resources and other hiring professionals assist in transitioning military skills into civilian skills.
• Where Veterans Work and What They Do: On a national level, you’ll find the highest concentration of Gulf War-Era veterans in federal government positions, followed by manufacturing and professional and business services; they also work in professional and related occupations as well as management, business, and financial occupations.

“These insights come at a time when businesses are being creative in their efforts to build a talented workforce,” Bill Koehler, Team NEO’s chief executive officer, said. “We hope this report begins to raise awareness about the many roles our veterans can play as they transition from military service to private sector jobs as well as inform workforce programs focused on the veteran population.”

In addition to data insights, the report highlights case studies from resources and organizations that are working to help transition veterans into the civilian workforce.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.