More Vets Gain Federal Employment

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2011 – Thanks to President Barack Obama’s Veterans Employment Initiative, more veterans are now federal employees.

Federal agencies hired 72,133 veterans in fiscal 2010, about 2,000 more than in 2009, U.S. Office of Personnel Management officials said in a news release.

“Through the president’s Veterans Employment Initiative, OPM and our agency partners are helping tens of thousands of veterans and their families continue their legacy of service,” OPM Director John Berry said.

The OPM report, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch for Fiscal Year 2010, also states that 25.6 percent of new hires across the federal government in fiscal 2010 were veterans. This is a 1.6 percent increase from fiscal 2009.

Of the veterans hired in fiscal 2010, 23,140 are disabled veterans, compared to 20,448 in fiscal 2009. This is a 1.2 percent increase.

“These are some of the best, brightest and hardest-working Americans in the federal government,” Berry said. “While we’ve accomplished a lot in the first year, too many veterans are still unemployed, and we’re going to keep pushing to do even better going forward.”