NORTHEAST WIS. – Gov. Tony Evers — together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) — announced that in 2025, Wisconsin retained its top five national ranking for successfully helping veterans find employment for the third year in a row.
Once again, Wisconsin was ranked fourth in the nation for these efforts, underscoring Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration’s continued commitment to supporting Wisconsin’s approximately 300,000 veterans and connecting them with available jobs to ensure they have the resources and tools needed to thrive in their civilian lives. This announcement came ahead of National Hire a Veteran Day on July 25.
“Our veterans often face unique hurdles in their civilian lives, but the skills and training they’ve received through their service make them invaluable assets to our workforce,” said Gov. Evers.
“I’m incredibly proud of our work over the last seven years to support Wisconsin’s veterans, and the proof of that good work is clear as we continue to lead the nation in providing the critical tools our veterans need to live their best, fullest lives and support their families.”
Wisconsin has been ranked fourth in the nation every year since 2023 in the Uniform National Threshold Entered Employment Rate (UNTEER) for veterans and eligible persons, a standard created by the U.S. Department of Labor to measure how effective states are in providing employment services to veterans.
The standard covers state service delivery systems, including programs administered by DWD’s Office of Veterans Employment Services (OVES), the Jobs for Veterans State Grants program and the Wagner-Peyser-funded Employment Service.
“With continued low unemployment rates in our state, employers are looking to fill high-skill job openings across many industries,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek.
“Veterans bring invaluable experience and skills to the workforce, but they often face unique challenges in finding family-supporting employment when they return to civilian life. DWD’s OVES provides individualized services to veterans and partners with Wisconsin companies to help them build their workforces.”
OVES assists veterans through the entire employment process, from developing a resume and translating military experience into civilian job qualifications to making connections with employers for available jobs.
In the program year that ended June 2025, the Veterans’ Entered Employment Rate in Wisconsin exceeded the national threshold, with over 62% of participating veterans securing employment after using DWD’s services.
Under Gov. Evers’ leadership, OVES has continued to advance employment opportunities for
Wisconsin veterans through targeted efforts, including:
The Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP), Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) and the Vets Ready Employer Initiative, which encourages and recognizes employers that go above and beyond for Wisconsin’s veteran workforce.
The recognition honors those employers that hire and retain veterans, build veteran support systems and connect with veterans in the community while assisting employers in attracting and retaining veteran talent.
Applications for this year’s recognition are open through July 31. Winners will be announced in November on Veterans Day.
The number of employers recognized as Vets Ready Employers reached a record high in 2025, including eight first-time recipients, reflecting the growing commitment of employers to hiring and supporting veterans in the workforce. Employers earning the Vets Ready recognition are highlighted on the Job Center of Wisconsin, where job seekers can search for jobs posted by Vets Ready employers.
Local businesses that have been recognized as Vets Ready Employers includes Waupaca Foundry Inc. of Marinette and Precision Iceblast Corp. of Peshtigo.
“Wisconsin’s veterans bring discipline, leadership and hard-earned skills to our workforce, and this ranking reflects what happens when state agencies work together on their behalf,” said DVA Secretary James Bond.
“WDVA is part of a larger effort to make sure Wisconsin is delivering on its commitment to those who have served in the armed forces. We are grateful to have dedicated partners in our mission from the local level all the way to the governor’s office.”
For more information on programs for veterans, contact the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Resources at +1 (800) 947-8387 or visit http://dva.wi.gov/resources/.
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