Veterans face a lot of challenges when transitioning to civilian life. Not only do they have the difficulty of finding jobs, but also many companies are not interested in hiring veterans because they believe that their skills may be outdated.

The unemployment rate among veterans is high and it doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better soon. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7% percent of all unemployed people were veterans (compared with 5% for non-veterans). On top of this, there are over 20 million military spouses and children who depend on these service members for financial support.

But don’t worry. We’ve got your back!

Keep reading because we have found 11 companies that make it a point to hire veterans – no matter what their background is or how long ago they served in the military – by taking advantage of programs such as Joining Forces or veteran job fairs. These organizations understand the value that our returning heroes bring.

1. Starbucks

Starbucks has a long history of supporting veterans, and they continue to do so by hiring them as full-time employees. In fact, Starbucks has pledged to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses by 2018. Veterans can be found in all sorts of positions at Starbucks, from store managers to coffee roasters. To apply, simply take a look at their career page.

2. UPS

UPS has been a strong supporter of hiring veterans for years. In fact, the company was ranked as the second-best large company for veterans by “Military Times” in 2012. Additionally, more than 70 percent of those hired last year were vets or military spouses. And, to make it even easier for veterans to transition into the workforce, UPS offers a 12-month paid military leave program.

3. Amazon

Amazon is another company that has been making a concerted effort to hire veterans in recent years. In fact, they pledged in 2013 to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years. And they’re making good on that promise, having already hired over 10,000 veterans and military spouses. Veterans can find a variety of positions at Amazon, from customer service to software development.

4. JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase is another company with a strong history of hiring veterans. In fact, they’ve been named one of the Top 100 Military Friendly Employers by “G.I. Jobs” for eight consecutive years. And they’re not just hiring vets for low-level positions; vets can be found in all sorts of roles at JPMorgan Chase, from financial advisors to relationship managers.

5. Walmart

Walmart is another company that has been making a concerted effort to hire veterans in recent years. In fact, they pledged in 2013 to hire 100,000 veterans by 2018. Since then, they’ve opened up more than 200 military-base stores and hired over 25,000 veterans and spouses. And it’s a testament to their success in hiring vets that they bumped up that goal to 250,000 veterans by 2020.

6. Bank of America

Bank of America is another company that has been making a concerted effort to hire veterans in recent years. In fact, they’ve pledged to hire at least 1,000 veterans and military spouses in the next five years. And they’re making good on that promise, having already hired over 800 veterans and military spouses. Veterans can find a variety of positions at Bank of America, from customer service representatives to technology professionals.

7. The Home Depot

The Home Depot is another company that has been making a concerted effort to hire veterans in recent years. In fact, they pledged in 2013 to hire 50,000 veterans by 2018. And they’re making good on that promise, having already hired over 40,000 veterans. Veterans can find a variety of positions at The Home Depot, from cashiers to managers.

8. Lowe’s

Lowe’s is another company that has been making a concerted effort to hire veterans in recent years. In fact, they pledged in 2013 to hire 20,000 veterans by 2020. And they’re making good on that promise, having already hired over 10,000 veterans. Veterans can find a variety of positions at Lowe’s, from sales associates to managers.

9. Dell

Dell is another company that has been making a concerted effort to hire veterans in recent years. In fact, they pledged in 2013 to hire 10,000 veterans by 2020. And they’re making good on that promise, having already hired over 5,000 veterans. Veterans can find a variety of positions at Dell, from customer service representatives to software engineers.

10. Verizon

Verizon is another company that has been making a concerted effort to build a veteran workforce. In fact, they pledged in 2013 to hire 10,000 veterans by 2018. And they’re making good on that promise, having already hired over 5,000 veterans. Veterans can find a variety of positions at Verizon, from sales associates to network engineers.

11. General Electric

General Electric is another company that has been making a concerted effort to hire veterans in recent years. In fact, they pledged in 2013 to hire 5,000 veterans by 2020. And they’re making good on that promise, having already over 4,000 veterans. Veterans can find a variety of positions at General Electric, from financial advisors to engineers.

To understand more about veteran benefits, please check out Veterans Aid.

Want More Companies to Hire Veterans?

It’s no secret that veterans are underrepresented in the workforce. With unemployment rates at or higher than 10% for recent vets, it is even more important to help them find meaningful work. The companies on this list have taken a stand and made an effort to hire veterans – not just once but repeatedly over time.

For more information about how we can find employers for veterans, check out our blog for more veteran support!