Canadians believe veterans have a difficult time finding civilian jobs after serving, annual survey says

Two-thirds of Canadians believe that over the last five years veterans have had a difficult (21%) or somewhat difficult (45%) time finding civilian jobs following their military service, according to an annual national survey commissioned by Commissionaires. The annual Nanos survey also revealed that while 75 percent of respondents believe the federal government has the highest obligation to help vets find jobs, only 5 percent rank the private sector as having the highest obligation.

“Commissionaires hires veterans every year so we understand the challenges they face. We certainly support the federal government’s efforts to assist veterans, and hope programs will be strengthened. But given the great need, we also encourage the private sector to step up,” said Bill Sutherland, National Board Chair, Commissionaires. “ As we commemorate Remembrance Day, one of the best ways to honour today’s veterans for their sacrifice and service, is to hire them.”

The survey also showed that the number of Canadians who believe our support for veterans is inadequate, rose in the last twelve months, from 30 percent to 42 percent. Only 6 percent of respondents consider the support Canada gives to veterans to be adequate. “Despite the leadership, training, skills and expertise veterans can offer the private sector from their years in the Canadian Armed Forces, they’re still finding it a real challenge to secure meaningful civilian careers,” continued Sutherland. “It’s time that changed.”

Since 1925, Commissionaires has been providing meaningful employment for veterans as they make the transition from the Canadian Armed Forces to civilian life. With 15 divisions and more than 20,000 men and women employed across the country, Commissionaires is a leading national provider of security services, and one of the largest employers of veterans in Canada.

Nanos Research conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,000 Canadians of 18 years of age or older between August 20^th and 23th, 2015 as part of an omnibus survey. The participants were recruited by telephone using live agents and administered a survey online. The margin of error for a random survey of 1,000 Canadians is ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.