Forces in Mind Trust has published a new policy brief calling for employment support for the Armed Forces community to focus more closely on long-term career outcomes, rather than whether Service leavers find work shortly after leaving the military.
The brief, based on findings from the Understanding the Transition from Military to Civilian Life report by QinetiQ and RAND Europe, says progress has been made in improving employment support for Service leavers, but some veterans and family members still face barriers to suitable and sustainable civilian employment.
The report estimated the cost of poor transition to government and the third sector in 2025 at around £258m, with unemployment accounting for £46m of that figure.
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FiMT said positive changes had been made in recent years, including modernisation of the Career Transition Partnership, automatic enrolment, improved online advice and lifelong access. It also highlighted the Government-backed Op ASCEND employment scheme, the Veterans’ Career Development Fund, the Defence Holistic Transition Policy and the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
According to the brief, 88% of Service leavers who engaged with CTP support and reported their outcomes were in employment within six months of leaving the Armed Forces.
However, FiMT said gaining employment did not always mean a successful transition. Some ex-Service personnel enter roles below their skill level, experience limited progression or struggle to explain their military experience in terms recognised by civilian employers.
The policy brief identifies several barriers to better employment outcomes, including underemployment, uneven in-career preparation, lack of localised support for specific groups, employer misunderstanding of transferable skills, inconsistent tracking of employment outcomes and limited employment support for partners.
It says some Service leavers may not prepare early enough for transition because of workload, lack of Chain of Command support or because they have no immediate intention to leave. Others, including those who are medically discharged, may face compressed timescales that reduce their ability to access available support before leaving the Armed Forces.
The brief also warns that certain groups, including women, ethnic minorities, non-UK personnel, disabled veterans, Early Service Leavers and older leavers, may face additional challenges when trying to secure civilian employment.
FiMT said employment support should be more targeted and localised, with better links to local employers and training providers. It also called for more detailed long-term tracking of employment outcomes, including data broken down by gender, ethnicity and Service background.
The policy brief recommends reframing measures of success away from employment within six months and towards career sustainability, progression and longer-term outcomes beyond the current two-year remit.
It also calls for stronger employer engagement, including practical toolkits to help organisations understand military skills, and greater awareness of the National Insurance Contribution relief available to employers hiring veterans into their first civilian role after Service.
The brief says employment support for partners should also be improved, with guidance made more accessible to families outside MOD firewalls where appropriate and written in clear, military-jargon-free language.
FiMT said serving personnel should be encouraged to take active responsibility for preparing for civilian life, including understanding employment options, making use of training and education, and gaining relevant qualifications before leaving the Armed Forces.
