The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has released an updated hiring benchmark for protected veterans.
Effective July 30, 2025, the national benchmark provided by OFCCP for contractors to use in their affirmative action programs is 5.1%. Contractors who are required by the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) to develop a written affirmative action program annually must either establish an individualized hiring benchmark for protected veterans using five specific data points dictated by regulations implementing VEVRAA or use the national percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force released by OFCCP. Contractors choosing to use the national benchmark would use the revised 5.1% benchmark in their first affirmative action program dated after 7/30/2025. Contractors can use OFCCP’s chart to ensure they are using the correct benchmark according to their plan date, found here.