Just in time for its next round of audits, OFCCP has released its annual review of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (“VEVRAA”) benchmark.  And for the fifth consecutive year, the benchmark has been reduced benchmark.  It is now at 5.9%.  The new benchmark will be effective for affirmative action plans updated after March 31, 2019.

At its inception in March 2014, the benchmark was set at 7.2% and has been subsequently reduced each year since then based on  the annual national percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force.

The benchmark is the percentage of veteran hires contractors should aspire to make each year as required by the 2013 revisions to the VEVRAA Regulations.

In its announcement releasing the revised benchmark, OFCCP reminded contractors that it plans to add VEVRAA Focused Reviews to its slate of compliance evaluations next year.  This is the first year OFCCP will undertake Section 503 Focused Reviews.