INDIANAPOLIS – Under Governor Mike Braun’s leadership, Indiana boasted one of the nation’s lowest veteran unemployment rates in 2025 (1.7%), which tracked significantly below the national rate for veterans (3.5%), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Powering the results are the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s continued efforts to provide career and training-related services to veterans looking to upskill and reenter the workforce. The department’s Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program serves veterans by providing specialized, dedicated staff in WorkOne offices covering all 92 counties who offer targeted career services and connect employers with qualified military talent.
Examples of the work these dedicated staffers are doing to help those who served all of us are inspiring. In Region 9, a veteran who lost his job after 16 years met with JVSG staff at a job fair and received help with job searches, resume revisions, supportive service referrals, and training. Within the last year, he was offered a position at Thrive Marketplace with a salary of $100,000 per year, a $40,000 annual salary increase.
Last month, JVSG staff took part in a previously scheduled resource fair at a community center in Merrillville, which was struck by an EF-2 tornado just days earlier. The storm damaged or destroyed at least 200 homes and buildings, according to local reports.
Despite the devastation, the event became a symbol of the town’s recovery. JVSG staff provided resources for over 30 veterans, including one in JVSG’s caseload who was offered a position on the spot and secured employment directly through a participating company.
Beyond those powerful stories, JVSG delivers measurable results. In the 2026 fiscal year, its Local Veteran Employment Representatives provided nearly 7,000 business services to more than 1,700 unique Hoosier businesses. The services include on-site visits, job fair services, detailed labor market information and analysis, Rapid Response assistance, job development, as well as referrals and marketing assistance.
Over the same period, Disabled Veteran Outreach Program specialists case-managed 697 eligible veterans and spouses by providing services to assist with overcoming barriers to employment. Of those, more than 65% successfully exited the program into employment.
Indiana’s success comes ahead of National Hire a Veteran Day on July 25, during which Gov. Braun encourages Hoosier businesses to consider hiring those who have served in the military.
“The strength of our veterans is part of what makes America the great nation that it is,” Gov. Braun said. “Indiana takes pride in serving those who served us so faithfully, ensuring veterans receive the assistance needed to secure their next chapter and successfully navigate civilian life. If you are a Hoosier business in need of proven talent, our veterans should be your first stop.”
To learn more about Indiana’s JVSG program and how it supports veterans, visit in.gov/dwd/veterans-services.
