VA is hiring new staff at an unprecedented rate, while working to attract, recruit and retain the best employees. We’re hiring faster and working to reduce the turnaround time to have new employees onboard.

VHA is well on its way to achieving its 52,000 new hire goal for FY 2023. We welcomed 18,502 new hires in the first four months of the year, the highest hiring level in the history of VA for that time period.

Hiring new staff at unprecedented rate

VBA’s total workforce grew by 1,369 employees (5.27%) in the first four months of FY23. That’s compared to 0.93% growth in same period FY22. This is the highest growth rate in the past 20 years.

A substantial growth rate so far this year

VHA’s goal is to hire 30,000 employees in seven important occupations: physicians, nurses, housekeeping aids, medical support assistants, nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses and food service workers.

We’re working to increase the percentage of positions that VHA proactively recruits from 25% to 35% this year, then from 35% to 50% by next year.

VA began implementing the PACT Act hiring authorities in waves starting immediately after enactment in August 2023. To date, five of the six waves have been completed, resulting in more than 10 new authorities to support hiring and retention including:

• Removal of restrictions on hiring of housekeeping aides
• Expedited hiring of college graduates and post-secondary students
• Higher limits for student loan repayments
• Recruitment, relocation and retention incentives, and special contribution awards
• Eliminating statutory limits on awards and bonuses.

Here are a few more VBA hiring achievements:

• VBA’s strength as of Jan. 31, 2023, is 27,337
• Including Pre-PACT Act hires to support servicing of Toxic Exposure/Military Environment Exposure (TE/MEE) claims, VBA’s workforce has increased by 10% in the last 12 months (Feb. 2022 – Jan. 2023)
• VBA attrition rate for FY23 through January is 2.69%, which compares to a rate of 4.64%% in FY22