Female veterans less likely than men to find civilian jobs

 Female veterans struggle to get on the job ladder when they enter civilian life, a Barclays survey has found.

Research by the bank’s Armed Forces support programme found that one in five female veterans found a civilian job within a month of leaving, compared to 39 per cent of male veterans.

The study, which interviewed 500 veterans of the Armed Forces who are now working in civilian jobs, also revealed that women were asked questions about their femininity and other inappropriate topics during job interviews. One in four were asked if they knew how to dress and act in a feminine way, and 19 per cent were asked if they had ever held a firearm.

On average, it takes veterans four months to find a job, increasing to five among female veterans. Women are also more likely to have to do extra training to help them find work, with 44 per cent taking on training, compared with 28 per cent of men.