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Region bolsters recent ranking of Best State for Military Retirees
July 20, 2020
Virginia was recently ranked as the Best State for Military Retirees by WalletHub.com. Propelling the Commonwealth to the top selection included Virginia ranking second in the Economic Environment category as well as fourth in Quality of Life. 
Due to its strong military presence, Virginia has the third-highest percentage of veteran-owned businesses and ranks as the fourth state with the Most Veterans per Capita. The Richmond metro area has 6,926 military veterans per 100,000 population, well above the national rate of 5,764 per 100,000.
The Richmond Region’s 87,153 veterans rival the 89,300 active duty personnel at Virginia’s 27 military bases. Annually, roughly 12,000 of those personnel exit military service which provides a source of experienced workforce.
WalletHub’s rankings support data by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services which states up to two-thirds of those separating from the military would remain in the Commonwealth if an attractive job could be found. Former members are also said they are often willing to relocate around the state if the new area offers a desirable quality of life and cost of living.
Employers are encouraged to connect with the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, a state initiative whose mission is to help employers connect with veteran personnel assets to maximize workforce productivity. The V3 provides free training and a certification program as well as helping employers implement best practices in recruiting, hiring, and retaining highly skilled and dependable veterans.
- Topics:
- Talent + workforce
