Veterans & Military Spouses Licensure Dialogue

Veterans and Military Spouses Licensure Online Dialogue

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) and Women's Bureau have teamed up with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP) to host this online dialogue in order to gather information and input on the effects of occupational regulation and licensing requirements on the employment opportunities for veterans, including disabled veterans, and military spouses and what can be done to ease these requirements.

Occupational regulation is, put simply, the set of rules that govern whether and how people are allowed to work. Approximately 25 percent of Americans must have a license in order to work. The goal of occupational regulation is typically health and safety: policymakers use occupational regulation to ensure that only qualified people are offering their services, and that their clients receive the safest and healthiest outcomes that are reasonably possible. Occasionally, these efforts to ensure health and safety can become burdensome and hinder economic productivity, labor mobility, and job creation. We are looking to the community to share their ideas and comments on what can be done to lessen this burden and ensure that veterans and their spouses are able to successfully pursue their careers.

Please join this dialogue to share your ideas and experiences regarding occupational licensing. Participant ideas and comments will be shared with policymakers to enhance employment opportunities for veterans, including those with disabilities, and military spouses, including those with disabilities.

Thank you for joining us in this important effort!