In World War I, every military used pretty much the same winter uniform—a big wool coat. But these coats would get hot when you were running around, and heavy when they got wet, but the weather was too cold to ever take them off. So in WWII, the quartermasters came up with a new plan: layering. The M-1943 field jacket was produced in order to be worn in any climate, so that soldiers could add other layers under or over it to regulate their temperature.
Here’s the interesting part: this was a new idea. Most Americans were unfamiliar with the concept of layering, or at least, their clothes were not built to facilitate it. In fact, the Army had to publish guides teaching the soldiers what to do. Today, layering comes naturally, and Western clothes are designed with this concept in mind. And we can credit the military for it.
Layering is just one of hundreds of military innovations that have trickled down into civilian life. Also on the list: duct tape, Pringles, Cheetos, super glue, EpiPens, microwaves, sanitary pads, Kleenex, cargo pants, bug spray, and the internet.
Veterans / Armistice Day offers us a chance to celebrate and remember the accomplishments and sacrifices of those who have served in the armed forces. But while we commemorate their time in uniform, we often overlook the valuable contributions veterans make in the private sector afterward. Just like the myriad inventions that have trickled down from military to civilian use, many military skills are also highly prized in the civilian labor market.
The future of the global labor market depends on workers that have practical skills but also the adaptability and resilience to meet the employers’ fast-changing needs. Veterans meet this need uniquely well, bringing technical expertise, transferable skills, and lived experiences to the workforce.
In the UK, Lightcast has collaborated with Reed in Partnership to explore the transition from military to civilian employment, highlighting the unique strengths of those leaving military service and their alignment with the needs of the UK labor labour force.
The most straightforward connection is between direct counterparts: the same or similar job titles used both within and beyond the military. Registered Nurse is the occupation with the highest number of openings by far, but roles as diverse as Barrister / Solicitor, Security Officer, and Fitness Instructor have also seen thousands of openings.
Lightcast experts also identified skills that are common across the military and also frequently sought across the overall UK labour market, such as leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork. While these skills are foundational to effective teams, efficient operations, and business success across the board, those who come from the high-stakes and highly disciplined world of the military are more likely to have greater experience with them.
We can run a similar analysis for jobs in the United States. Here again, Registered Nurses outpace every other role by an even greater margin, and many other of the top jobs are also the same (13 of each country’s top 20 roles overlap).
Looking at the same 20 top skills required in the UK and analyzing their posting frequency in the US, we see that soft/human skills are employers’ highest priorities. The physical skills of first aid and manual handling, already near the bottom of the UK list, are the very last two in the US.
For employers and policymakers, the path forward is clear: leverage skills and jobs data to identify where veterans' capabilities align with labor market needs. By understanding the direct occupation matches and transferable skills that veterans bring—from nursing to security to leadership—organizations build flexible, resilient talent pipelines. This data-driven approach transforms veteran hiring from a goodwill gesture into a competitive advantage that strengthens your organization and your economy.
Veterans' service to their countries has demanded sacrifice, courage, and dedication—qualities that continue to benefit us all. Happy Veterans / Armistice Day from all of us at Lightcast, and thank you to everyone who has served.
Thanks for reading On The Job. Be sure to catch up on our past issues, including "Return-To-Office is Creating Two Classes of Worker," "Six Dos and Don'ts for AI" and "The Next Great Resignation." You can also subscribe here. We’ll see you next time.
