An alarming percentage of employers think veterans are not prepared for jobs in the real world, according to the biannual Veterans Talent Index from employment giant Monster.

Though most (75 percent) veterans are confident about the skills they bring to the table in civilian jobs, only 39 percent of employers think veterans or those with prior military experience are prepared to fill open positions.

The snapshot of the current veteran hiring landscape, gauged from surveys of 900 vets and 900 employers, aims to close that communication gap and connect veterans and employers more effectively.

More than 1 million military service members will re-enter civilian life over the next five years, and veterans continue to face a competitive marketplace for work.

Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of vets said they are very or extremely likely to be looking for work within the year.

Top keywords searched by veterans reveal an interest in customer service, security and management positions.

Top keywords searched by employers reveal that accounting, computer software engineers and computer systems analysts are in demand.

An encouraging 74 percent of surveyed employers reported they had hired more than one veteran within the past year, up from 70 percent in the 2011 report.

Confidence is lagging among the candidates, however. Only 29 percent of vets are confident about finding work that suits them, down from 44 percent in November’s survey.

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