Military veterans identify the best employers who support and value them; Forbes magazine has the latest rankings

In celebration of Veterans Day, Forbes magazine has released its fourth annual listing of "America's Best Employers For Veterans 2023." The magazine partnered with market research firm Statista and "surveyed 8,500 veterans (those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, the Reserves or the National Guard) working for companies with more than 1,000 employees," reports Rachel Rabkin Peachman of Forbes. 

Healthcare and tech companies and government agencies received some of the highest rankings, with the U.S. Department of Energy finishing first on the list, followed by Ricoh USA. "What these employers have in common is a deep commitment to hiring and valuing members of the military," Peachman writes. "Ricoh USA, for one, seeks out military talent through career fairs. . . .The company also supports military-related leaves of absence and donates to such organizations as Wounded Warriors. . . What's more, Ricoh prioritizes partnerships with veteran-owned businesses, and, according to Venable, the company grew its spending with veteran suppliers by 30% in 2022."

The highlighted companies are not the norm, and ex-military job hunters cite stereotypes such as "all military members have PTSD" or all are "drill sergeants who don't know how to assimilate into a civilian environment" as reasons employers avoid hiring veterans, Peachman explains. "The key for employers is to learn about what military experience can entail. . . . In turn, veterans can increase their chances of landing the right job by learning how to translate their military skills into terms a civilian employer may understand. That way, recruiters don't have to wonder what it means to lead a battalion or guess about what airmen technicians do."

NASA ranks #38 as a veterans employer. (Forbes ranking)

In a nation where around 200,000 service members leave the military each year, "companies seeking top talent have a pool of motivated, skilled and highly trained" candidates, Peachman reports. "Hiring veterans, with their diverse experiences and expertise, not only adds value to an organization's workforce but also qualifies employers for tax credits."

It's worth noting that rural Americans are more likely to serve in the military. The U.S. 2010 census found that only 16% of Americans live in rural areas, and yet 24% of all veterans do, says a report by the U.S. Census Bureau. An even greater percentage of military members come from rural areas. Find Forbes' full list here.