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OFCCP Sets 2017 VEVRAA Hiring Benchmark at 6.7 Percent

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently announced that the 2017 annual Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) hiring benchmark is 6.9 percent. The new benchmark is a slight decrease from last year’s 6.9 percent benchmark and became effective on March 31.  It reflects the national percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force for 2017 as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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 each year.  Employers responsible for complying with the regulations by having a written affirmative action plan should use the new 6.7 percent benchmark or an independently derived benchmark as outlined in the regulations. The benchmark is subject to change annually and is 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 AGC’s Labor & HR Topical Resources library.  The primary category is “EEO” and the secondary category is “Affirmative Action/EEO.”  AGC-member log-in is required to view all available resources.

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