Billing Code: 451079
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
Request for Information on Black Veterans and Good Jobs
AGENCY: Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), U.S. Department of Labor.
ACTION: Request for information.
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL or the Department) is seeking information from
the public regarding evidence on Black veterans’ experience transitioning from military to
civilian employment and veterans’ access to good jobs and meaningful careers. The Department
is publishing this Request for Information (RFI) to gather information to continue its efforts in
building a strong knowledge base on the employment outcomes and experiences of Black
transitioning service members (TSMs) and veterans to inform and improve veteran policies and
programs.
DATES: Comments must be received by [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF
PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: Respondents are encouraged to submit their comments through one of the
methods identified below. Email is the preferred method of submission.
•

Email: ORPVETS@dol.gov

•

Postal Mail: Address written submissions to U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’

Employment and Training Service, Office of Research and Policy, Room S-1325,
200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20210
Submissions by postal mail must be received by the deadline and should allow sufficient
time for security processing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yolanda Peacock, Research Analyst,
Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, ORPVETS@dol.gov, 202-693-0590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I.

Background
The mission of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) at DOL1 is to

prepare America’s veterans,2 service members, and military spouses for meaningful careers,
provide them with employment resources and expertise, protect their employment rights, and
promote their employment opportunities. VETS’ mission is accomplished through two grant
programs: the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG)3 and Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration
Program (HVRP),4 as well as through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP),5 the
Employment Navigator & Partnership Program (ENPP),6 and the Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).7
The JVSG provides federal funding, through a formula grant, to 54 State Workforce
Agencies to hire dedicated staff to provide individualized career and training-related services to
veterans and eligible persons with significant barriers to employment and to assist employers fill
their workforce needs with job-seeking veterans. The HVRP, through a competitive grant,
provides services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within
the labor force and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that
address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
TAP is a cooperative interagency effort including DOL and the Departments of Defense,
Education, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs; and the Small Business Administration and
the Office of Personnel Management. TAP provides information, tools, and training to ensure
service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life. The ENPP

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets
Veterans are service members who have served and completed active-duty military service.
3 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/grants/state/jvsg
4 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp
5 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap
6 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap/employment-navigator-partnership
7 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra
provides one-on-one career assistance to interested TSMs8 and their spouses at select military
installations worldwide. Provided outside of the formal DOL TAP classroom instruction, the
Employment Navigator will assist them in securing meaningful and lasting post-separation
careers. Finally, USERRA aids those experiencing service-connected problems with their
civilian employment, and VETS offers guidance to employers on USERRA regulations. VETS
also assists veterans who have questions regarding Veterans’ Preference.
II.

Black Veterans Research Project
Research indicates that disparities in employment and wages exist both in the general

population and within the veteran community, and are influenced by factors such as disability
status, gender, location, and race. It has also been observed that certain groups within the
military and veteran communities, including individuals of different races and ethnicities,
women, individuals with disabilities, and military spouses, have been historically
underrepresented in research. In light of this, VETS has undertaken research initiatives focused
on various demographic groups. Specifically, VETS has conducted research on military spouses
within our Women Veterans9 and Disabled Veterans Programs, and through multiple Customer
Experience projects, to identify the unique challenges and disparities faced by different
demographic groups. VETS seeks to continue building and using evidence to identify and
prioritize opportunities to improve overall support of veterans’ employment outcomes and
experiences in accordance with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support
for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.10 To this end, VETS endeavors
to better understand variations in employment outcomes and experiences across different
subgroups of veterans and build a strong knowledge base regarding underserved communities of

Transitioning Service Members are members of the military who are leaving active duty and
returning to civilian life. They may be within 24 months of retirement or 12 months of separation
from the military.
9 Women Veterans Research U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)
10 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equityand-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government
veterans to inform and improve veteran policies and programs and improve veterans’ access to
good jobs.11
In FY23, in an effort to advance equity in VETS programs, VETS launched its Black
Veterans Research Project. This project was launched due to lower economic indicators that are
persistent in the Black Veteran community when compared to other racial cohorts and the whole
veteran community. This project serves as a model for further research into underserved
populations served by VETS programs. This research—conducted in collaboration with DOL’s
Chief Evaluation Office (CEO)—was the starting point to building a strong knowledge base
regarding the employment outcomes and experiences of Black TSMs and veterans. The output
from this research includes a literature review and three-part roundtable discussion series. The
research shows that there are many commonalities across racial cohorts and that
intersectionality12 can affect economic outcomes. These artifacts are available for viewing on
VETS’ Black Veterans Research web page.13
DOL is committed to developing 21st century employment services that are responsive to
the needs of today’s veterans. To achieve this, VETS will build on the insights gained from the
RFI and the Black Veterans Research Project and incorporate the Good Jobs Principles,14 a
shared federal vision of job quality published in 2022 by the Departments of Labor and
Commerce.15 The Principles describe good-paying jobs that remove barriers to employment for
veterans and people of color, among other groups. By assessing the potential of existing
programs and services and incorporating the Good Jobs Principles, the aim is to identify the

https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs
“Intersectionality means that people belong to more than one group and, consequently, may
experience overlapping health and social inequities and have overlapping strengths and assets
related to their group identities or membership.” (The Department of Health and Human Services
Evaluation Policy. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of
Health and Human Services, 2022).
13 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/resources/black-veterans-research
14 https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles
15 https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/goodjobs/Good-Jobs-Summit-Principles-Factsheet.pdf
strategies that will have the most significant effect in improving employment opportunities and
wage outcomes for underserved groups, including Black veterans.
III.

Request for Information

One of the key findings from the literature review is that Black veterans are not a
monolithic group; intersectionality is a contributing factor for the Black veteran employment
experience. The findings from VETS’ Black Veterans Research Project also show that Black
veterans seek assistance and support programs at a higher rate while experiencing worse
economic and employment outcomes than other veteran subgroups. To further enhance the
research, VETS seeks to continue its evidence building efforts by focusing on insights from the
public and community at large. Organizations serving veterans, advocacy groups, workforce
development and/or job centers (including American Job Centers16), businesses and employers,
economic development associations, training providers, educational institutions (including
Historically Black Colleges and Universities), think tanks, researchers, and other subject matter
experts are invited to share their professional and/or research knowledge and experience or any
other data and information related to the most effective intervention strategies to improve the
employment and wages outcomes of underserved groups, including Black TSMs and veterans.
VETS seeks the public’s insight to identify how its programs can effectively improve
employment and wage outcomes for underserved groups, including Black veterans. VETS is
especially interested in comments about outcomes that are aligned with good jobs, as defined by
the Good Jobs Principles.
The literature review identified several factors contributing to differences in employment
outcomes experienced by Black veterans. The contributing factors are discrimination; veteran
identity and self; military discharge status; social capital of enlisted service members and
officers; education/training/pathways/advancement; veteran status and wages; military

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/training/onestop

experience and occupation—transferability to high-demand occupations in the civilian sector;
perceived mismatch from military to civilian jobs; and military transition.
VETS seeks to refine its research scope to identify the most immediate employment
needs of Black veterans and other intersectional, marginalized demographic groups, as well as
interventions that would have the most immediate positive impact on employment and wage
outcomes for all underserved groups, including Black veterans. As such, this RFI is designed to
capture specific, concise responses optimizing VETS’ ability to easily categorize, group,
prioritize, sort, and filter responses.
DOL asks commenters to address any or all of the following questions in the context of
the preceding discussion in this document. Commenters do not need to address every question
and should focus on those that relate to their expertise or perspective. To the extent possible,
please clearly indicate the question(s) addressed in your response. Research and evaluation
studies, statistical information, training materials, policy statements or reports, or other relevant
information may also be included or referenced in responses. Please include hyperlinks if
available.
Although not required, the Department would appreciate submissions that include a
name, phone number, and email address for a single point of contact, in addition to the
organizations, tribes, or other governmental agencies with which respondents are associated.
This will allow VETS the opportunity to reach out for any necessary clarifications and streamline
communication.
Responses will not be posted publicly, but will be summarized in a report prepared by the
Department. Any information submitted in response to the RFI may be releasable pursuant to the
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act or other applicable law. For that reason, the
Department requests that no business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or
personally identifiable information be submitted in response to this RFI.
IV. Questions

1.

How does identity intersectionality contribute to the employment outcomes that

Black veterans experience and how can services improve and be better marketed to ensure that
individuals of all identities and localities have access to opportunity?
2.

What can VETS programs do to improve employment and wage outcomes for

Black veterans and other intersectional, underserved communities,17 including job opportunities
with the features of Good Jobs described in the Good Jobs Principles? Specifically, what do
VETS programs need to do and where should the programs be?
3.

What are the primary challenges experienced by Black service members that

greatly influence their post-military employment prospects?
4.

What key moments during the transition from military to civilian life have a

significant impact on employment outcomes for Black veterans?
5.

What are the most immediate employment needs of Black veterans?

6.

How have veterans’ benefits programs and other government services affected the

successful or unsuccessful obtainment of a good job as described by the Good Jobs Principles?18
7.

What are the most effective intervention strategies to improve employment

outcomes for Black veterans and other intersectional, underserved communities?
8.

How can VETS programs most effectively contribute to improved employment

outcomes for Black veterans and other intersectional, underserved communities?
9.

Where is the best place to engage with Black veterans and other intersectional,

underserved communities and meet their needs?
Signed at Washington, D.C. this 13th day of June, 2024.
James D. Rodriguez,
Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.

The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic,
as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to
participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. (Executive Order 13985: Advancing
Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government)
18 https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles

[FR Doc. 2024-13509 Filed: 6/20/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/21/2024]