Title: Veteran workforce development: how veterans can make a positive impact on workforce development in the construction industry

Authors: Pastaya L. Briggs; Salman Azhar; Malik Khalfan

Addresses: McWhorter School of Building Science, College of Architecture, Design and Construction, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA ' McWhorter School of Building Science, College of Architecture, Design and Construction, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA ' School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3001, Australia

Abstract: Hiring veterans is a valuable way through which the construction industry may overcome the workforce development challenges it faces. In spite of the several initiatives introduced by construction firms alongside the government and other stakeholders to take advantage of veteran talent, little research has been conducted to understand the impact of hiring veterans as workforce in the construction industry. Based on in-depth interviews with five veterans and one individual, all from the construction industry, this study sought to understand the positive impact hiring veterans can have on workforce development in the construction industry as well as the challenges associated with hiring veterans. According to the findings of the study, veterans possess unique skills and abilities that make them ideal for construction jobs: a strong work ethic, teamwork and leadership skills, organisation and the ability to develop action plans, resilience and problem solving skills, and cross-cultural competence.

Keywords: veteran workforce development; veteran workforce challenges; veteran workforce impact; construction industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2020.109768

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2020 Vol.12 No.3, pp.220 - 237

Received: 30 May 2019
Accepted: 19 Sep 2019

Published online: 23 Sep 2020 *

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