Preface i

Summary ii

Table of contents v

Figures vi

Tables vii

Boxes viii

Abbreviations viii

Chapter 1. Introduction 1

  1.1. Background 1

  1.2. Research objectives 2

  1.3. Methodology 2

  1.4. Structure of the report 10

Chapter 2. Veterans’ and Reservists’ skills and qualifications 11

  2.1. Introduction 11

  2.2. Veterans’ skills and qualifications 12

  2.3. Reservists’ skills and qualifications 14

  2.4. Soft and general skills 14

  2.5. The transferability of skills and qualifications 15

Chapter 3. Labour-market participation and impact 17

  3.1. Introduction 17

  3.2. Employment profile 18

  3.3. Earnings 27

  3.4. Benefit receipt and economic support 29

  3.5. Net fiscal contribution 33

Chapter 4. Differences in labour-market experiences within the Veteran community 36

  4.1. Introduction 36

  4.2. Gender 37

  4.3. Ethnicity and nationality 41

  4.4. Age 42

  4.5. Health and disability 44

  4.6. Region 46

  4.7. Service branch and Service era 47

Chapter 5. Underemployment among Veterans and Reservists 51

  5.1. Introduction 51

  5.2. Understanding underemployment 51

  5.3. Veterans 52

  5.4. Underemployment among Reservists 55

Chapter 6. Barriers and facilitators to successful employment 58

  6.1. Introduction 58

  6.2. Barriers to employment 59

  6.3. Facilitators of employment 63

Chapter 7. Conclusions and recommendations 66

  7.1. Conclusions 66

  7.2. Recommendations 69

References 74

Annex A. Qualitative review methods 81

  A.1. Literature Review 81

  A.2. Qualitative interviews 83