Employment, Explore the Register of Veteran Specific Research
Employment is a critical factor in successful transition and long-term wellbeing for veterans. Meaningful work provides financial security, purpose and social connection, key elements that support mental health and resilience. Research highlights the unique challenges veterans face, including translating military skills into civilian roles and overcoming barriers to workforce participation. Understanding these issues helps shape policies and programs that create inclusive pathways to employment and career development.
This resource brings together available studies focused on employment. It’s designed to help researchers, policymakers and the veteran community access reliable information that supports wellbeing, recovery and systemic change. Please note that while much research is publicly available, some studies may require subscription access.
Explore the register below to find data about employment, if you’d like to explore another topic, you can do so here.
Title: Participation in occupations, health and adjustment during the transition from military service: A cross-sectional study.
Author/Source: Carra, K., et al., Military Psychology, 2021. 33(5): p. 320-331.
Summary: Investigates how engagement in meaningful occupations affects health and adjustment among Australian Defence Force veterans. The findings suggest that occupation-based programs tailored to individual preferences can significantly support veterans during their transition to civilian life.
Title: Increased risk of attempted suicide in Australian veterans is associated with total and permanent incapacitation, unemployment and posttraumatic stress disorder severity.
Author/Source: Kerr, K., et al., Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2018. 52(6): p. 552-560.
Summary: Analyses suicide risk factors among 229 Australian veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Findings reveal that younger age, unemployment, and total and permanent incapacitation status significantly increase the likelihood of suicide attempts. Higher PTSD severity and comorbid symptoms such as depression and anxiety were also associated with elevated risk. The study emphasises the need for early intervention, employment support, and targeted mental health services for vulnerable veterans.
Title: The Transition of Retired Military Officers to a Second Career in Sport Management: The Israeli Case.
Author/Source: Galily, Y. and P. Shimon, Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2012. 4(2): p. 5-17.
Summary: Examines the career transitions of retired Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officers into sport management roles. The authors highlight the unique challenges these individuals face, including identity shifts and organisational adaptation, and argue that sport management offers a promising avenue due to its structured environment and leadership demands. The study calls for more research into this underexplored transition pathway.
Title: Perception of Employment by the Veterans Participating in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games: A Survey Study.
Author/Source: Kim, W., et al., Pm r, 2018. 10(3): p. 263-268.
Summary: Investigates whether participation in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) influences veterans’ employment outcomes. Among 338 respondents, 50% reported that the NVWG positively impacted their ability to attain employment. The findings suggest that adaptive sports events like the NVWG may play a meaningful role in vocational rehabilitation for veterans with disabilities.
Title: The effect of adaptive sports on employment among people with disabilities.
Author/Source: Lastuka, A. and M. Cottingham,
Disability and Rehabilitation, 2016. 38(8): p. 742-748.
Summary: Analyses how participation in adaptive sports influences employment among individuals with physical disabilities. Surveying 131 athletes in wheelchair rugby and basketball, the authors found that each additional year of sport participation increased employment likelihood by approximately 4%. Education and duration of disability were positive predictors, while veteran status and injury severity were negative. The study concludes that adaptive sports offer substantial economic and psychosocial benefits, justifying increased investment in such programs.
Title: Extreme sport as an intervention for physically injured military veterans: the example of competitive motorsport.
Author/Source: Serfioti, D. and N. Hunt, Disabil Rehabil, 2022. 44(24): p. 7566-7574.
Summary: Explores the therapeutic potential of competitive motorsport (CM) for British veterans with permanent physical injuries. The authors advocate for integrating extreme sports like CM into rehabilitation programs to enhance veterans’ physical and mental wellbeing.
Title: Purpose after service through sport: A social identity-informed program to support military veteran wellbeing.
Author/Source: Waldhauser, K.J., et al. Educational Publishing Foundation [doi:10.1037/spy0000255]. 2021.
Summary: Evaluates the Purpose After Service through Sport (PASS) program, designed to support Canadian veterans’ wellbeing through sport-based social identity development. The study supports PASS as a feasible and impactful intervention, with potential for broader implementation and randomised trials.
Title: Mission Himalaya: Exploring the Impact of a Supported High-Altitude Mountaineering Expedition on the Wellbeing and Personal Development of UK Military Veterans.
Author/Source: Kay, C.W.P., H.L. Wingfield, and J. McKenna, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022. 19(9).
Summary: Examined the psychological and personal development outcomes of ten UK military veterans who participated in a high-altitude expedition to the Nepalese Himalayas. The findings suggest that structured adventure therapy, when supported by coaching, can catalyse long-term wellbeing and personal growth in veterans.
