Well, technically they have updated the percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force published on the OFCCP’s website, which is what most sane contractors use to set their veteran hiring benchmark for their VEVRAA AAP.

The current benchmark is 5.4%, but effective Sunday, March 31, that figure will drop to 5.2%.

AAPs with a start date prior to March 31, 2024, should still use the prior benchmark. AAPs with a start date on or after March 31 should use the new figure.

If you are simply bored and would like to develop your own veteran hiring benchmark, or otherwise have a more legitimate reason to do so, the OFCCP has also revamped their website to make that a little easier. Just click on “Option II” and you can look up two of the five factors you are required to use if you choose that method.

The percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force has been falling steadily by about one tenth of a percent each year since the OFCCP implemented the veteran hiring benchmark in 2014. But that simply reflects the ratio of veterans to non-veterans to begin with, which gives us a sense of the scale of the issue the OFCCP is trying to address, which is not insignificant.

But more importantly, the unemployment rate for veterans in the United States fell below the overall rate several years ago and has stayed there. Overall, America is seeing unemployment at a rate of about 3.9%. For veterans, that figure is 2.8%. Perhaps not surprisingly, the OFCCP is generally less concerned about the veteran hiring benchmark these days than they are about other issues (like compensation discrimination).

If you have questions about this or any other OFCCP compliance matter, drop us a line at BCGi@Biddle.com.