Straight Up: What the 2025 Job Market Means for Veterans

Navigating a career change in 2025? It’s not exactly a walk in the park, but there are big opportunities hidden in the shifting job market sands. This report gets straight to the point: the trends shaping this year, the opportunities worth chasing, and the pitfalls to dodge.

Looking Back: The 2024 Debrief

Veteran Employment Trends

The transition from military to civilian life? Tough. The job market? Not exactly rolling out a red carpet. Here’s the score:

• Employment Rates: 87% of service leavers land a job within six months. Solid, but not all sunshine and roses.
• Full-Time Work: Veterans are less likely to work full-time, and have nearly double the unemployment rate of civilians. Ouch. 4
• Job Hopping: Nearly half of veterans leave their first civilian job within a year. Why? Misaligned expectations, lack of support, or feeling like their skills are wasted.  (Cite)

Key Challenges

• Skill Mismatch: 44% of veterans feel out of sync with civilian job requirements. Employers want certifications; veterans bring real-world experience instead. (Cite)
• Networking Woes: 44% don’t know anyone in their target field. No LinkedIn buddy, no job. (Cite)
• Underemployment: 54% can’t crack jobs in their desired fields, and 62% settle for a lower level of seniority. (Cite)
• Employer Initiatives: 87% of employers say they want to hire veterans, but only 29% back it up with programmes that matter. Recruitment schemes that go beyond a token effort? Still rare.  (Cite)

Silver Linings

1. Employer Interest: Up 20% in five years. Progress, albeit slow. (Cite).
2. Government Support: Programs like Op Prosper and tax breaks for veteran hires show promise. 7, 8
3. Tech Integration: Cybersecurity and digital roles are luring more veterans, thanks to Ministry of Defence schemes.
4. Entrepreneurial Spirit: Nearly half of veterans dream of starting their own gig. Adaptable, creative, and gutsy—no surprises there.

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The Lay of the Land: What to Expect in 2025

Economic Landscape

Inflation. Interest rate jitters. Employers playing it safe. But green energy, defence, and tech are still waving the hiring flag.

Major Trends to Watch

• AI & Automation: It’s not stealing jobs; it’s changing them. Employers want talent who can work with AI, not fear it.  (Cite)
• Sustainability: Green infrastructure is a £20 billion opportunity for veterans with operational or logistical chops.
• Hybrid Work: Remote work isn’t a trend; it’s a new normal. Veterans thrive in these adaptable environments.(Cite)

Booming Industries Built for Veterans

• Cybersecurity: With £2.6 billion in contracts, this sector needs strategic thinkers and leaders. Coding skills optional.
• Green Energy: Logistics, project management, and systems planning are a natural fit for military minds.
• AI & Machine Learning: Roles in data and system integration are a goldmine for veterans who can process info quickly and solve problems on the fly.
• Digital Health: The NHS’s digital push opens doors for veterans with operational experience.

The industries on the rise? They’re practically built for veterans who know how to adapt, lead, and deliver. Here’s how to make the most of these booming sectors:

Double Down on Transferable Skills

Your military experience aligns perfectly with what these industries are crying out for. For example:

• Cybersecurity: Strategic thinking and risk management fit perfectly into roles like threat analysis and defence coordination. No need to be a coding expert—your leadership is the real asset.
• Green Energy: Operational planning and logistics from your service days? Those skills are invaluable in project management and sustainability roles.
• AI and Machine Learning: Your ability to analyse situations quickly and solve problems on the fly makes you a strong contender for roles like systems integration or ethical AI oversight.

Look Beyond the Headlines

It’s easy to get dazzled by big numbers like "£20 billion green investments," but the real opportunities are in the details:

• Focus on roles driving innovation, such as project leads, technical specialists, and change managers.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often provide more flexibility and faster career progression than large corporations.

Play to Your Strengths

Veterans are natural leaders with unparalleled discipline and adaptability. Industries like cybersecurity and digital health aren’t just after tech-savvy hires—they need people who can thrive under pressure and make strategic decisions.

Don’t Let the Fear of New Tech Hold You Back

The tech world evolves quickly, but you don’t need to know it all on day one:

• Many roles in these sectors don’t require advanced technical skills—soft skills like communication and leadership are often more valuable.
• Upskill strategically, focusing on certifications or tools directly tied to your target role.

Trouble Ahead: Where to Tread Lightly

• Traditional Banking: Automation is cutting jobs left, right, and centre. Look at fintech instead.
• Old-School Manufacturing: 25% of roles replaced by automation. Advanced manufacturing is the pivot.
• Corporate Middle Management: Companies are flattening hierarchies. Strategic leadership is still a win, though.

These so-called "declining" sectors aren’t a dead end. They’re evolving, and you’re exactly the type of adaptable talent who can ride that wave. It’s not about dodging entire industries—it’s about positioning yourself where they’re headed.

Hunt for Hybrid Roles Combining Traditional Skills with New Tech

Hybrid roles are emerging as crucial opportunities where traditional expertise meets cutting-edge technology. For example:

• Security Consulting: Increasingly requires familiarity with AI tools to bolster risk assessments and predictive analysis.
• Logistics Positions: Often integrate automated systems for enhanced supply chain efficiency.
• Leadership Roles: Demand oversight of digital transformation projects, combining strategic planning with technological insights.

Target Companies Actively Investing in Change

Companies embracing innovation are still hiring while others hit pause. These organizations:

• Prioritize adaptability and forward-thinking talent.
• Value resilience and flexibility—veterans’ bread and butter.
• Are more likely to weather economic downturns, ensuring job stability and growth.

Seek Out Growth Pockets in “Declining” Sectors

Even struggling industries house hidden opportunities in modernization and innovation. For veterans:

• Every challenged sector has growth areas tied to digital transformation or process upgrades.
• Roles in these areas are ideal for veterans skilled in managing change, navigating complexity, and driving operational efficiency.

Bridging the Skills Gap

The 2025 Skills Crisis

The UK job market is crying out for skilled professionals, and veterans are perfectly positioned to step up. According to the Employer Skills Survey, there are severe shortages in areas where veterans already excel:

• Engineering and Technical Roles
• Project Management
• Logistics and Operations
• Leadership and Team Management

With over 200 trades in the Army alone, veterans receive world-class training in many of these areas. The problem? Translating these military skills into civilian job descriptions. Veterans’ abilities are often their greatest strength and their most misunderstood asset in the job market.

Bridging the Qualification Gap

It’s not just about skills—it’s about proving you have them in a way civilian employers understand.

• Certification Shortfalls: 44% of veterans say they lack the certifications employers require, despite having done the job (and more) during service.
• Educational Disparities: Civilians are twice as likely to hold a degree (26% vs. 12%), even if veterans have more practical experience.
• Unrecognised Training: Over 40% of veterans feel their military training goes underutilised in civilian roles.
• Literacy and Numeracy Barriers: As many as 50% of Army recruits start with below-standard literacy and numeracy skills, which can carry over into civilian employment struggles.

Recommendations for Veterans

Bridging the gap doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel. Here’s where to start:

• Pursue Certifications: Focus on qualifications that are in high demand, such as project management (PRINCE2), IT (AWS certifications), or leadership (ILM).
• Gain Practical Experience: Volunteer, take part-time roles, or shadow professionals to adapt your skills to civilian contexts.
• Leverage Training Programmes: Make the most of resources like TechVets, AWS re/Start, and Enhanced Learning Credits. These programmes are designed to help veterans upskill quickly in relevant industries.

Investing in upskilling and securing the right credentials isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the key to unlocking your full potential in 2025 and beyond. You’ve got the grit, discipline, and adaptability; now it’s about showing employers how those qualities translate into their world.

The Changing Workplace

The workplace of 2025? Unrecognisable from a decade ago. Companies are rethinking how they get things done, swapping rigid hierarchies for flexibility and innovation. For veterans, this evolution isn’t just a challenge—it’s an opportunity.

Remote Work Evolution

Hybrid work is now the norm, with 70% of employers offering a mix of home and office. The good news? You can skip the soul-destroying commute. The less good news? Hybrid work comes with office politics and new cultural quirks to navigate. Still, if you can handle the chain of command, you can handle this.

Mission-Centric Team Structures

Forget the old silos—today’s teams operate more like task forces. They’re cross-functional, goal-driven, and laser-focused on outcomes. Sound familiar? This structure mirrors military units and lets veterans thrive where teamwork and mission focus are non-negotiable.

Project-Based Work

Permanent roles are giving way to project-based models where results trump job titles. It’s less “what’s on your badge” and more “what can you deliver?” For veterans, this approach is second nature—mission accomplished is what you do.

Adaptive Performance Models

Change isn’t just inevitable in civilian workplaces—it’s the status quo. Companies now prize adaptability over rigid processes, meaning veterans’ resilience and ability to pivot under pressure are in high demand.

The 2025 workplace isn’t just compatible with military principles—it thrives on them. Veterans aren’t just qualified; they’re overqualified. The challenge is helping civilian employers see it and ensuring veterans get the right support to bridge the gap.

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The AI Revolution in Job Hunting

Recruitment Realities

AI tools are no longer a novelty—they’re running the show in recruitment. In 2025, 89% of large UK employers are using some form of AI to sift through applications. Most CVs meet a bot before a human, and video interviews are scrutinised by algorithms. But here’s the silver lining: the final decision still rests with an actual person.

Here’s the breakdown of what’s happening when you apply:

• 89% of big employers are using AI in recruitment.
• Your CV? It’s meeting a robot before it reaches a human’s desk.
• Video interviews? Can be analysed by AI for tone, body language, and keywords.
• The good news: People are still in charge of the last call.

How to Use AI to Boost Your Job Search

It’s not all about surviving the robots—AI can work in your favour too. Here’s how to use it to your advantage:

CV Builders and Optimisers

• Use tools like ResyMatch to tailor your CV for specific roles. These platforms analyse job descriptions and suggest ways to improve your CV to rank higher in ATS systems.
• AI-based grammar tools like Grammarly ensure your CV is error-free and polished.

Job Search Engines

• Platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed use AI to recommend roles based on your profile and activity. Keep your profile updated to receive more relevant suggestions.
• AI-powered filters help you sift through roles quickly, targeting opportunities that fit your skills and preferences.

Interview Practice

• With some clever prompts, you can use ChatGPT for mock interviews. Get feedback on your responses, tone, and delivery to sharpen your skills.

Networking Assistance

• AI tools like Crystal or Grammarly Tone Detector help you personalise emails and LinkedIn messages, ensuring your outreach feels authentic and professional.
• LinkedIn’s AI features suggest ways to expand your network by highlighting shared connections or industry-specific groups.

Understanding how AI shapes recruitment isn’t optional—it’s essential. Learn the rules, work the system, and use AI as your ally to outpace the competition.

Key Actions to Take Now

Right then, enough of the analysis - let's get to what you can actually do. 

Immediate Actions (As in, Today)

Skills Gap Analysis

1. Map your military skills against 2025 job requirements.
2. Your core military skills are solid; it’s the industry-specific technical stuff that needs attention.
3. Get Smart About Digital Skillssome text
   • Pick one technical area to tackle first—cybersecurity, AI tools, data analysis, you name it.
   • Start with free options:some text
     • Google Digital Garage
     • FutureLearn
     • Your MOD Enhanced Learning Credits (if you’ve still got them).‍

‍Sort Your Story Out

1. Update your CV for AI screening but make it relatable for humans.
2. Focus on what you achieved, not just what you did.
3. Ditch the military jargon—unless you’re applying to defence contractors.

Medium-Term Moves (Next 3-6 Months)

Build Your Network (Properly)

1. Connect with three people in your target industry—but don’t lead with, “Got a job for me?” Build relationships.
2. Join professional groups or industry events to expand your reach.

Get Hands-On Experience

1. Look for volunteer roles, part-time gigs, or shadowing opportunities in your chosen sector.
2. Learn the civilian ropes by working alongside professionals who’ve already transitioned.

Strategic Upskilling

1. Focus on qualifications that actually matter.
2. Study job descriptions for your ideal roles and pick certifications employers care about:some text
   • Recognised in your industry.
   • Can be completed within your timeframe.

The Long Game (6-12 Months)

Industry Deep Dive

1. Follow key companies in your sector—what are they doing right?
2. Understand where your role is heading and position yourself ahead of the curve.‍

Create Your Transition Timeline

1. Set realistic milestones.
2. Build in contingency because, let’s face it, something will go wrong.
3. Factor in your family, finances, and mental bandwidth—it’s not just your career; it’s your life.

Let’s Get Moving

Military transitions aren’t easy, but you’re not here for easy. Plan, execute, adapt—and remember, you’ve got Redeployable in your corner. Sign up now and get:

• Career recommendations
• A personalised transition plan
• Clear next steps based on your timeline
• No generic advice, no time-wasting, no nonsense

From CV optimisation to creating a step-by-step career change plan, we take the guesswork out of your next steps.

Ready to get started? Try now for free.