News

OFCCP Sets 2016 VEVRAA Hiring Benchmark at 6.9 Percent

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently published its 2016 annual Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Benchmark.  The benchmark is 6.9 percent and reflects the national percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force for 2016, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The new number is a slight decrease from last year’s 7 percent benchmark. 

OFCCP’s revised VEVRAA regulations implementing affirmative action requirements of federal contractors and their subcontractors went into effect on March 24, 2014. At that time, OFCCP announced the national percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force as 8 percent. Since the final rule was implemented, the percentage has decreased from 8 percent to now, 6.9 percent.  Employers responsible for complying with the regulations by having a written affirmative action plan should use the new 6.9 percent benchmark, or an independently derived benchmark as outlined in the regulations. The benchmark is subject to change annually and will be published in OFCCP’s VEVRAA Benchmark Database.  

For more information on OFCCP’s veterans rule and other issues related to affirmative action requirements for construction employers, visit the Labor & HR Topical Resources.  The primary category is “EEO” and the secondary category is “Affirmative Action/EEO.”  Logging-in is required to access all available resources.

Industry Priorities