TEGEVTEENISTUSEST LAHKUNUD VETERANIDE TOIMETULEKUST TÖÖTURUL

How do Estonian Veterans Cope with the Labor Market

Abstract

The transition to civilian life for military personnel has been a widely discussed topic in Estonia, and in many other countries. In 2012 the Estonian Government approved the Policy Regarding Veterans of the Defence Forces and the Defence League, and instituted vocational and employment services for Estonian veterans. This study seeks to find answers to the question: how well are Estonian veterans able to cope with the labor market after they leave the service? Initial findings suggest that Estonian veterans actually fare worse in the labor market when compared to other similar groups in the society. Comparisons of data both from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Estonian Tax Board, and from several other studies, show that Estonian veterans experience significant hardships in their search for work in the civilian labor market. Nearly 46% of the servicemen leaving the service register themselves as unemployed. It has also been found that the employment rate for veterans was in fact lower than that was for the control group. The article notes that when veterans leave the service they have high expectations regarding their future careers. Unfortunately, for many of them, they must confront a great deal of adversity when entering the civilian labor market. As a remedy, it is advisable that veterans leaving the service should receive better counseling about the realities of the labor market. Veterans seeking employment should also make sure that they have the necessary skills and qualifications for the jobs they want to have in the civilian labor market.